Biases Reinforced by Algorithms

Algorithms often reinforce biases by promoting content that reflects existing stereotypes and user patterns, which can distort representations of certain identities and deepen those patterns over time.

10/17/20251 min read

On another note, these algorithms often strengthen existing biases. Safiya Noble explains how basic search outcomes can spark racial and gender stereotypes rooted in the data they train on (Noble 2018). Social sites operate under similar rules. They lean toward content that matches user patterns. This can lead to distorted views or sidelining of some identities. As users get used to it, the algorithm locks in those patterns even more.