‘a depressive state risks becoming more depressed if they are continuously fed a stream of such content. “Algorithms cherry-pick* things with which we are likely to agree and, Jettison® information that does not appear to fit our preferences,” says. science writer Dr David Robert Grimes from Oxford University. He fears algorithms distort accuracy and balance, Can I see what data my social media collects about me? ‘Facebook makes it relatively easy for users to find out how the site's algorithm has categorized their interests through the Ad Preferences ‘page. However, 74% of Facebook users say they don't know this list exists and. 51% are uncomfortable about it. Is it possible to outsmart: the algorithm? ‘You can't outsmart the algorithm, but you can alter your online profile and ‘the content shown to you by disrupting® it: to scroll (v}:to move through text pictures on a computer or phone sereen 60 you can see more to scoff (v, inf: to eat 2 lot of. something quickly mind-blowing (adj): overwhelming, surprising to curate (v): to select and collect things as part of list, website or ‘museum collec + Follow profiles that hold different views. = Change your feed settings to ‘chronological’ rather than ‘most relevant’ © Explore and use different hhashtags, captions and sounds. * Long:-press on a video and tap “Not Interested’ to indicate that you don't care for a particular vvideo (even if you like it) to change ‘what the algorithm shows you in the future. Jess Davis, a digital marketer who specializes in the responsible use of technology, has this advice: “If the ‘companies and algorithms aren't doing it for us, it's up to us to regulate ourselves.” WRITING: 20-MINUTE TEST Making note: Read the article, Make notes about the positive and negative aspects of algorithms. fay PRONUNCIATION SE) listentotie keywords tom this acl, PF veining plusnetiurent 23 sieve (n): filter; for example, in baking / cooking a sieve is used to make flour finer filter (v) to sort out, to separate 10 track (v}: to follow the movements of someone to linger (vi: to stay in one place or ‘spend a long time over something relevant (adj): useful and right for you to deploy (v):10 make use of something SOCIAL MEDIA SPEAKING: 40-MINUTE TALK Reflect on the article: = How do you fee! about the amount ‘of information social media ‘companies have about you? Does itbother you? Why / Why not? ‘= Do you plan to change the way you behave an social media or ot? Why? = Do you think governments / social media platforms should collect this data? VOCABULARY: 10-MINUTE CHECK Social Media Language Finish these definitions with the: ‘correct terms from the article: Ceo oO 4. Participation (comments, posts, likes) on a website is Sas 2 Ifyou are only exposed to people ‘who have the same views you're ee 3 A phone, tablet oF POIs your Eas 4 A stieam of content shown 7 5 A social media network or chamnelisaf 6 Something thats topleal and Pras CY The answors are on page 23> WATCH |ANide about using social media, pls.etcurent223 valuable (adi): useful, worth vulnerable (adj): weak, unable to resist affinity (n: a natural king for, or similar to something entrenched (adj: fixed, unable to change polarized (ad: divided into opposite groups ‘to cherry-pick (v: to only choose or see the good bits to jettison (v): to throw away ‘to outsmart (v): to beat something by being clever CURRENT Jonuery / Fobruary 2022 11