A quick tea- The algorithm is creating Barbies

Although I love analyzing internet culture, I also enjoy using it to explore my creative side online. A few months ago, I started a new Instagram profile to share images of my outfits, outings, and jewelry-making hobby. At first, I loved expressing myself in a way I was too shy to on my main page. I felt putting myself out there in this different way would feel too personal among friends on my main feed. I also wanted to keep my profile private for my family.

Starting a new profile can be lonely, especially when you have no followers or likes. I quickly realized that if I wanted engagement, I needed to align my content with other users. So I started using these creators' posts as templates. I figured this could help me attract more followers since it was the type of content they were already following. But soon, I noticed something common among these posts. Multiple women were dressed the same, with identical poses and accessories. The algorithm was creating a feedback loop that erased diversity from my feed. And not only that , but i had unknowlingly become a part of it again.

"Algorithms force creators to conform to platform-promoted standards to gain exposure within the app, as like-minded users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with these norms"

In an effort to connect and find my community , I had become a member of an explore page cult, stuck with other women I didn't know but somehow dressing in the same uniform as. Although Instagram's explore page, led me to discover move content, it trapped me down  Although Instagram's explore page led me to discover more content, it also trapped me down a path shaped by algorithmic selection.

Algorithms force creators to conform to platform-promoted standards to gain exposure within the app, as like-minded users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with these norms. This cycle of conformity boosts engagement, drawing more visibility and favor within the algorithm, while also reinforcing a particular aesthetic that becomes increasingly difficult to deviate from. Highfield and Leaver (2016) call it a 'digital echo chamber' where even hashtags like #BlackGirlMagic can homogenize a group. Instagram's Explore page increases echo chambers by promoting these similarities but consequently it can leave creators with no choice but to adapt to the platfroms process.

#socialmedia #digitalself #algorithms

References

Highfield, T., & Leaver, T. (2016). Instagrammatics and digital methods: Studying visual social media, from selfies and GIFs to memes and emoji. Communication Research and Practice, 2(1), 47-62.