University of Twente Student Theses
Authentic and justifiable decision-making : the political influence of recommender systems
French, S.J. (2022) Authentic and justifiable decision-making : the political influence of recommender systems.
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| Abstract: | Recommender systems have transformed how people interact with multimedia. Extensively found on major platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Google, recommender systems employ big data analytics to disseminate information to across the globe. Among these recommendations are politically-relevant content, such as news articles, political advertisements, blogs, opinion pieces, and podcasts. This thesis explores the relationship between recommender systems and political decision-making, analysing the effects that exposure to recommendations has on the authenticity and justifiability of political decision-making. In this thesis, I outline reflective endorsement and deliberation as necessary criteria for authentic and justifiable political decision-making. I explore the relationship between recommender systems and these criteria, analysing whether their economic motivations and technological workings are conducive with authentic and justifiable political decision-making. Given that recommender systems have a tendency to prioritise misinformation and promote ideologically entrenched groups, I argue they negatively affect citizens’ ability for reflective endorsement and deliberation. Identifying recommender systems as sociotechnical systems, I provide sociotechnical solutions that address the phenomena undermining the possibility of reflective endorsement and deliberation. These solutions do not attempt to impose changes on individuals but create less divisive and more reflective conditions in which citizens can engage in deliberative communication that practically informs decision-making. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 08 philosophy |
| Programme: | Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society MSc (60024) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/92672 |
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