Algorithms 101: Youth and AI-Driven Tech
Algorithms are omnipresent in the digital world: the movie that’s flagged for you on streaming services, the videos served to you on social media, the ads you see when scrolling through news sites. None of these are a coincidence. Rather, they are created to entice users to increase their usage and time on online platforms. But how do these algorithms work? And how do they impact our children? Our panelists set out to explore that in this #AsktheExperts webinar.
[0:00] Introduction
Kris Perry, MSW, Executive Director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, introduces the webinar and panel moderator, Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Ahmed begins by providing a high level overview of what an algorithm is and how it works. He then offers examples of how algorithms used on social media platforms can contribute to toxicity online and promote harmful content to young people. Based on his experience and reports from CCDH, Ahmed emphasizes how important it is to understand the use, function and harm caused by algorithms on social media platforms in order to advocate for better.
[13:08] Elvira Perez Vallejos, PhD
Elvira Perez Vallejoz, PhD, Professor of Mental Health and Digital Technologies at the University of Nottingham shares research on young people’s perceptions of algorithms, addressing both risks and benefits. Vallejos considers the impact of algorithms on child development, specifically cognitive development, relationships, and physical health. Vallejos concludes with a summary of what we can do to advocate for change and recommendations on how to ensure that children interact with algorithmic content in a critical and knowledgeable manner.
[30:12] Motahhare Eslami, PhD
Motahhare Eslami, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the
Human-Computer Interaction Institute & Software and Societal Systems Department at
Carnegie Mellon University, explores the impact of algorithmic bias. Eslami explains how algorithms serve to reinforce bias, delivering content that is often more negative towards racial and ethnic minorities, prioritizes Western ideals, and perpetuates gender norms. Eslami offers specific recommendations for caregivers to help empower youth to navigate and challenge algorithmic bias in their lives.
[43:38] Amy Ogan, PhD
Amy Ogan, PhD, Associate Professor of Learning Science at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, discusses the importance of AI literacy in empowering youth to make informed decisions online. She identifies three misconceptions about youth that can be barriers to increasing youth AI literacy, and shares research that challenges these notions, underscoring the importance of involving youth in shaping the future of AI decision-making. She urges educators and caregivers to foster children’s critical consciousness of AI biases and potential risks too.
[59:32] Ranjana Das, PhD
Ranjana Das, PhD, Media and Communication, and Professor at the University of Surrey, UK, shares research about parental perceptions of algorithms. She dives into four significant dimensions of parents’ algorithmic literacies: algorithmic awareness, technical competencies, critical capacities, and championing parents’ and children’s best interests. Das recommends that parents and caregivers consider the four aspects of parents’ algorithmic literacies and find what works for them, concluding that parents can use everyday moments to talk with their children about algorithms and their influence on our everyday lives.
[01:12:08] Panel Q&A
Ahmed brings the panelists together for a brief group discussion addressing questions submitted from the audience. Panelists discuss possibilities for blocking and retraining algorithms, ways to set time limits with technology, how to advocate for legislation around algorithms, and how young people are actively using existing tools.
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