The concept of power in algorithms is an interesting one to say the least. In the article Living with Algorithms: Power, Agency, Resistance written by Bonini and Trere, there was a lot of scholarly language that made things very hard to follow. Just to focus on a few points, Power in Algorithm and agency stood out. Algorithms seem to run a lot of parts of human life now, given that we are so technologically advanced and social influence has made such huge impacts. Mixed with platforms on social media, algorithmic power is easily prone to take place. Though this exercised power is “mostly invisible to ordinary users”, it still has a prominent impact through forms of agency and users themselves. Depending on a user’s online rhetorical velocity, they may find themselves being a part of an algorithmic agency like an Instagram pod. Agencies like this allow for users to majorly influence outcomes in algorithm. They also sway the belief of absolute “power” in these places. This ultimately creates the neglect towards user creativity and coping strategies. But where there is power, there is resistance.
Resistance
Some agencies act as a form of resistance to combat these powers in algorithms. Resistance, in this case, is an act that responds to power. In some cases, it can be through algorithms and towards algorithms. Where the resistance is towards algorithms, people such as activists, scholars, or even the common person points out algorithmic harms. In other cases, algorithms are the anchor for resistance. They spread the idea of making a change against power in algorithms. They are used to push back against the creative misuse and everyday unethical tactics used by certain users.
Put Together
Both of these topics cover what it is like to be living in the age we do now of algorithmic power, resistance, and social status. Though they aren’t noticed much of the time, algorithms reside in many things we involve ourselves with, especially online. Resistances do serve as a way of combatting suppression of outward expression. But with how I see it, moral variation also plays a role in the realm of algorithms.
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