A SECOND BITE AT THE ALGORITHMIC APPLE ?? : HOW AI DEEPENS OUR POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DIVIDES

By, Rikke Alderson

As I reflect on this post-election landscape, one thing is clear: AI, algorithms, and SEO have become invisible forces that shape our opinions, fuel our divides, and often make us feel like we’re living in entirely different worlds. ???

The recent campaign—specifically surrounding Donald Trump and Kamala Harris—highlights a conflict that goes way deeper than political labels. It’s a collision between economic classes, between those who wield influence and those who feel left behind, between those who shape the news and those trapped in their own digital bubbles. ????

Kamala Harris, often viewed as the “coastal” choice of the educated and urban classes, is met with skepticism from many working-class voters who don’t see themselves in what they perceive as “elite values”*. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, despite him being the ultimate “billionaire class businessman” and convicted felon, somehow resonates strongly with these same working-class and rural voters the Harris campaign was attempting to reach, positioning himself as the anti-establishment voice who takes on "the swamp" and challenges elite power. For some, he’s a voice against a system that feels rigged, as self described by Trump, while others see his message as populism that taps into fears about a changing country.

This is more than just political preference—it’s a reflection of our new digital reality. Major news outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News each attract millions of daily visitors (According to Statista: NYT with about 7 million subscribers, WaPo reaching over 75 million unique monthly visitors, and Fox News with roughly 1.7 million daily viewers). These publications create powerful, segmented information bubbles that shape opinions across the country, but often these narratives don’t reach outside their core audiences. Liberals and conservatives alike are captives of algorithmically curated information loops, where the “news” is tailored, filtered, and edited specifically for “them” without their actual consent. It’s a world where what’s true for one group may as well be invisible to the other. ???? And, in fact, is. ??

The Consequence of Digital Echo Chambers ?????

According to Pew Research, 72% of Americans believe social media algorithms actively censor viewpoints and they have accepted this reality and rarely consider their limited realities. This isn’t just a tech glitch; it’s a force that intentionally fuels fear, resentment, and deeper divides. Those in urban, affluent communities may feel the responsibility to “advocate” for underrepresented groups, but this message and legislative benefits more often than not doesn’t reach the rural or working-class communities who end up feeling abandoned and judged by elite-driven values — even as they are counter intuitive. The disconnect is real and only gets wider with every Instagram/Facebook feed or YouTube recommendation.

Rethinking AI and Media to Bridge the Divide ????

IMHO, this division is a huge opportunity for change and requires immediate action. AI has historically been used to categorize and influence, but it can also be reoriented to encourage empathy, broaden exposure, and build connections across divides. This would require legislative solutioning like regulations to maximize actual truth sources.? Imagine an AI that doesn’t just aim to maximize clicks but is required to expand perspectives, introducing a diversity of views that challenge rather than affirm our biases. ??? Just imagine. Ai as a force for good ?? rather than evil ??. To move toward a more unified society, we need to question the intent behind the content we consume and demand a unified media that does better. Here are some ideas on? how we can help build a healthier information ecosystem:

1. Demand Transparency in Algorithmic Filtering: Social media and search engines should be open about how they prioritize content. When we understand why we’re seeing what we’re seeing, we’re empowered to recognize when we’re being steered down certain paths. ?????
2. Support Diverse, Inclusive Media: Seek out and support platforms that bring multiple perspectives and include voices that might not often be heard. ProPublica and Ethnic Media Services, for example, focus on covering underrepresented communities and expanding the media’s reach. ?????
3. Take Personal Responsibility in Consuming News: Let’s make an effort to get outside our comfort zones. Platforms like AllSides and Ground News make it easy to see the “blind spots” in our news consumption and explore stories we wouldn’t normally see. ????
4. Encourage Accountability and Ethical Standards in AI: Organizations like AlgorithmWatch and the Partnership on AI are committed to ethical guidelines and transparency, ensuring that AI tools are empowering us, not just directing us. ????

Moving Beyond Fear and Building an Empowered Future ?????

This isn’t just a call for action—it’s a vision for a media future that values empathy, transparency, and inclusivity.? With conscious, ethical media, with AI that inspires rather than limits, and with a commitment to explore beyond our? biases, we can shape a future where truth is a common ground. Let’s push for a world where information brings us closer together, rather than driving us further apart. Together, we can make this vision a reality. It starts with each of us, with our demand for transparency, and with our choice to see beyond our own bubbles. As America grows more diverse, let’s choose to grow more connected, using technology as a bridge, not a barrier, to understanding. ??????

??Xo, Rikke

Appendix: Organizations Leading the Way ???? & Something to (Re)Consider

If you’re curious about outlets already making strides in transparency, inclusivity, and responsible use of AI, here are a few that are helping to change the game:

• The Markup (https://themarkup.org): A nonprofit newsroom investigating how technology impacts society, with projects like "Citizen Browser" that examine how platforms like Facebook curate content.??
• ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org): Investigative journalism that highlights underrepresented communities, ensuring diverse coverage.
• Ethnic Media Services (https://ethnicmediaservices.org): Enhances ethnic news outlets’ capacity to inform and engage diverse audiences, working toward a more inclusive democracy.
• AllSides (https://www.allsides.com): Presents news from multiple perspectives, helping readers see all angles.
• Ground News (https://ground.news): Known for its "Blindspot" feature, highlighting stories underreported by certain outlets and encouraging diverse views.
• AlgorithmWatch (https://algorithmwatch.org): Evaluates and promotes transparency in algorithmic decision-making processes.
• Partnership on AI (https://www.partnershiponai.org): Develops best practices for AI with an emphasis on ethical guidelines and accountability.

SOMETHING TO (RE)CONSIDER:

While I’ve attempted to illustrate a contrast between the intellectual class and the working class here, this is by no means a definitive or accurate representation. Rather, it’s simply a thought exercise designed to spark reflection and encourage you to consider the differences and overlaps in how these groups are often perceived versus how they might actually see themselves. The goal isn’t to box anyone in, but to get us all thinking beyond the surface-level assumptions.?

• SOCIAL VALUES AND PRIORITIES — Intellectual Class (Assumptive Values): Values inclusivity and progressive social issues. Working Class (Assumptive Values): Values traditional, conservative views and community.
• ROLE OF GOVERNMENT — Intellectual Class (Assumptive Values): Seeks government intervention for social equity. Working Class (Assumptive Values): Prefers limited government, autonomy in economic matters.
• NEWS CONSUMPTION PREFERENCES — Intellectual Class (Assumptive Values): Reads long-form investigative journalism (e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post). Working Class (Assumptive Values): Prefers concise, direct news (e.g., local news, Fox News).
• ENGAGEMENT AND PERSPECTIVES — Intellectual Class (Assumptive Values): Engages with diverse perspectives as a priority. Working Class (Assumptive Values): Engages with familiar, community-driven perspectives.