I definitely felt that Manize N. and I were on the same wavelength in regards to our reflections on our experience with “Task 11: Algorithms of Predictive Text”. Manize N. expressed that she felt limited in what she was able to communicate using predictive text, which is how I felt, too. One of the differences though, was that Manize N. tried the activity with more than one prompt. Interestingly, Manize N. stated the following: “I saw a lot of similarities in the predictive text suggestions that popped up no matter the prompt I used”. I thought that this was a very interesting observation and I wished that I had tested it out in this way.
Manize N. shared a personal experience about how algorithms had negatively impacted her in regards to an employment opportunity, and I appreciated that she shared this personal experience. Manize N. appears to share many of the same concerns as I do about the power and dangers of algorithms. I am glad that more of us are becoming aware and concerned about the ethics behind secretive algorithms.
The fact that algorithms are impacting people in such potentially destructive ways is very unnerving. I recently went down a rabbit hole that I was pulled into by TikTok’s powerful algorithm that is able to curate endless videos that I find entertaining even unexpected ones. On this particular day, I watched a series of videos by a creator that edits and writes resumes. A lot of the videos provide advice to job seekers on how to make their resumes appealing to the algorithm. It is no longer about making your resume standout to an actual human in the human resources department. It is becoming increasingly disconcerting to think about how much of an individual’s opportunities and life decisions are being curated by algorithms. From job prospects to prospective relationship matches, algorithms are everywhere and how do we know if they are actually helping or hindering society?
Link to Manize N.’s Blog Post: https://blogs.ubc.ca/etec540manizenayani/2021/03/28/task-11-algorithms-of-predictive-text/