What's Your Algorithm? Steps on How You Can Diversify Your Internet Browsing

Welcome to the July edition of #TanaSpeaks with?Dr. Tana M. Session. This is a monthly newsletter designed to expand your perspective in the workplace. Don't miss an issue and be sure to?+subscribe.

This month's poll asked...

What are our personal biases and how do we come to form them? One medium that shapes our understanding of the world is the Internet. Algorithms learn our patterns and behaviors (i.e., our data) to provide 'better' content (aka "stuff we like"). This can lead us to believe in a distorted view of the world, one which confirms our biases.

What I teach in my Unconscious Bias course is that 90% of who we engage with in the world look or act like us (there's that confirmation bias again!). Algorithms will amplify voices you like and showcase ideas that match your data (and biases). No data can be ever really be considered unbiased, can it? (after all...it all originates from people).

What often goes unnoticed are voices which we aren't nearly exposed to enough. One community that is often forgotten in the discussions of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) is the differently-abled. This month, I challenge you to expand your sphere of information and discover new voices, and ideas and embed them into your search history and social media feeds.

Practices for diversifying your Internet data:

• Be curious! Go out on your own time and search topics that you are less familiar with and less comfortable with. The more exposed you are to different ideas, the less bias your search results may show.
• Look for new voices: Make a list of thought leaders and influencers you follow, is there a voice or community that's missing? How many of these individuals do you personally identify with?
• Google isn't the only search engine: There are private search engines that don't share your personal data with third parties.

Don't miss these dates! July 14 is International Non-Binary People's Day, a day for increasing awareness and understanding about non-binary individuals. July 26 is the anniversary of Disability Independence Day, the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Your organization can take part online through posting your support and recognition and using the hashtag #ADA32.

Until next month... Be well and stay safe & healthy!

Available for purchase at?www.tanamsession.com/products.

STOP BEING THE BEST KEPT SECRET (R)

Check out my interview with Kellie Wagner, Founder & CEO of Collective – A DEI Lab, where we discuss the aftermath of Roe v Wade. Listen now!

I'm interviewing thought leaders for my new season! Please DM me if you're interested.?

Follow my show on?Spotify,?Apple Music?or?Amazon Music.?

ICYMI: I'M ON LINKEDIN LEARNING

Uncovering Unconscious Bias in Recruiting & Interviewing, course designed by Dr. Tana M. Session and taken by?more than?230k?learners?in its first year of launching!!?Enroll today!

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

I'm pleased to announce the official launch of my new nonprofit "From Foster Care To Fabulous Foundation." Our mission is to provide financial assistance and other resources to foster parents of children aged newborn to four (4) years old. If you know my story...then you know this is personal and near & dear to my heart. We have partnered with foster care agencies in New York, Los Angeles & Atlanta to help us identify foster parents in need.

Please support our mission by making your tax deductible charitable contribution via our website "Donate Today" page.?Thank you in advance for your support.?

AVAILABLE NOW!!?

Working While Black?shares the journey of Black women in Corporate America as they rose through the ranks against all odds and a system stacked against them. Through their stories and prescriptive remedies, readers will develop strategies for career success and have a "true call to action."

You can order a copy of my latest book,?"Working While Black: A Woman's Guide to Stop Being the Best Kept Secret(R)"?on my?publisher's?website, or?Walmart,?Amazon?and?Barnes & Noble.