Explaining the Algorithm
It is important to educate your child on the existence of algorithm used on YouTube, and other social media which affects what you see. Here’s a simple explanation you could use:
An algorithm is a set of rules and signals that sites use to show their users the videos, pictures or articles that they are most likely to interact with. No two people on an app like TikTok will see exactly the same content, even if they follow the same accounts or have similar profiles. This is because the algorithms learn from our online behavior, and make decisions about what content to show us based on whether or not we:
Liked a video, picture, article or comment
2. Subscribed to an account
3. Watched a video all the way through
4. Skipped a video or stopped it halfway
5. Left a comment or review
6. Shared content
This can be a good thing, as an algorithm can help connect you to accounts that you might like based on what you have chosen to like and view. It can also be tricky in these ways:
· With screen time and maintaining a healthy balance- the urge to watch ‘just one more’ can be difficult to resist when algorithms show videos they know you will be interested in. This can make it harder to take a break and maintain a healthy balance between time on and offline.
· A lack of different opinions or experiences- Algorithms show you content that the apps and companies think you will be interested in. This can mean that you are also more likely to see content that matches your own opinions about the world, rather than videos or posts that show a balanced range of views and different perspectives. Sometimes this is referred to as an ‘echo-chamber’ and can make people see their beliefs or opinions as more common than they are.
· Exposure to upsetting, extreme or unsuitable content- Some social media companies have been criticized for creating algorithms that gradually show people more upsetting or extreme content based on their interests. For example, if a young person looks at a lot of content about animals, an algorithm could start to suggest content showing animal cruelty, neglect or upsetting rescue videos, to them. In the past these suggestions have also led to children and young people being shown content that promotes harmful behavior, including eating disorders and self-harm.
· Targeted advertising- Based on the content being viewed, advertisements are selected that are more appealing to the user. Targeted advertising can be difficult to resist. When a child is pushed advertising, we know how difficult it can be to deny them of what they want to purchase.
Please explain that YouTube, Netflix, TikTok etc. make more money the longer you watch. This is why they designed it so that when you stop watching one video, it automatically recommends and plays another one for you or is on a continuous scroll. It is supposed to be hard to put down. But we must.