IDS week 4

Looking for Patterns Within and Across Media Messages

Media Literacy Skill: Inducing

The skill of induction draws general conclusions about elements after making a small set of observations about those elements. Media companies use this skill to tailor algorithms to help them gather information about their audiences. One place that we see the use of induction is in social media. Media platforms use algorithms to promote, influence, and sometimes change human behavior.

The induction process starts when something grabs our attention in a way that stimulates us to begin asking questions about what is really going on, and we seek an explanation. In short, the purpose of the inducing is to notice patterns and make inferences, and therefore, draws the audience in and effects how we think and perceive media messages.

Every interaction you have on a social media platform generates data. This includes likes, comments, shares, saves, clicks, viewing duration, and even how long you pause on a particular piece of content. Algorithms use advanced machine learning and data science techniques to analyze this massive influx of information.

Assignment

By analyzing this data, algorithms identify patterns in your behavior and preferences. Based on these identified patterns, the algorithms make inferences and predictions about the type of content you’re most likely to enjoy and engage with in the future. They then use these predictions to curate your feed, prioritizing and showcasing content that aligns with those inferred patterns.

This pattern inference enables the algorithms to deliver a highly personalized experience, aiming to show you content that is most relevant and appealing to you individually. The goal is to keep you engaged on the platform for as long as possible, ultimately increasing advertising revenue for the platforms.

Social media platforms employ algorithms to gather information of how audiences use media. For example, if someone watches a Facebook video on dog grooming, they might start to see dog grooming (or any other domestic animal) commercials during their programs or experience several popup advertisements about animal care, dog adoption, donating to a nonprofit dog rescue, etc. when they are on a website.

Directions:

In this writing assignment, you will write a mini research paper, focusing on the industry perspective rather than a personal perspective. You are to focus on how the industry used the skill of inducing to establish audience media consumption patterns using social media algorithms to effect media messaging.

The topic of your paper should include:

• A clear and defined thesis statement.
• A definition and discussion on induction and/or inference.
• A discussion on the positives and negatives of social media algorithms supported by researched factualinformation.
• A discussion of how (at least one) media effects theory (discussed earlier in the semester and textbook) is related to social media algorithms and induction.
• References to behavioral studies dealing with audience interaction with social media.

In short, your paper should demonstrate that the writer has a clear understanding of how social media has used the media skill of induction to identify patterns in human behavior to promote prolonged engagement with media messages. This is your time to shine and show your instructors how much you have learned so far in this course. Because this is more of a culmination assignment for the course, this mini research paper should be 700 -750 words (not including the reference page). Refer to Chapter 6: Inducing: Looking for Patterns Within and Across Media Messages in your recommended text, 7 Skills of Media Literacy and use the How to Infer in Your Writing Guide to complete your work.

Resources

You are encouraged to use all the information that you have read in previous chapters in your textbook as well as all the provided videos and readings attached to the previous writing assignments as your foundation and springboard.

Here are some additional resources to get you started.

• Understanding Social Media Algorithm 2024 Complete GuideBy: Chandraveer Singh, Social Pilot.co., January 3, 2024Learn how social media algorithms affect the ranking of your content in the feed. Find out how to trick the algorithm and boost your content visibility.
• Code-Dependent: Pros and Cons of the Algorithm Age By: Lee Rainie and Janna Anderson, Pew Research Center, February 8, 2017. Algorithms are aimed at optimizing everything. They can save lives, make things easier and conquer chaos. Still, experts worry they can also put too much control in the hands of corporations and governments, perpetuate bias, create filter bubbles, cut choices, creativity, and serendipity, and could result in greater unemployment.
• Dear Facebook, this is how you’re breaking democracy Yaël Eisenstat, TED2020, August 2020. "Lies are more engaging online than truth," says former CIA analyst, diplomat, and Facebook employee Yaël Eisenstat. "As long as [social media] algorithms' goals are to keep us engaged, they will feed us the poison that plays to our worst instincts and human weaknesses." In this bold talk, Eisenstat explores how social media companies like Facebook incentivize inflammatory content, contributing to a culture of political polarization and mistrust -- and calls on governments to hold these platforms accountable to protect civil discourse and democracy. WARNING:This video contains strong points of view on a very controversial topic, and some may find this to be triggering and/or upsetting. It is being included in this curriculum because it illustrates the concept of algorithms on audience perspectives. The views expressed in this video are solely of the author and NOT of the instructor or the university. Students are NOT required to watch this video and will not be penalized if they choose not to.

Grading

This course is a “Gordon Rule” course. The Gordon Rule requires students in Florida public universities to complete a minimum of writing intensive courses (visit FIU Gordon Rule Courses Fact Sheet). FIU Gordon Rule courses meet this requirement by assigning several writing assignments, sequenced throughout the course, typically totaling 3,500 words or more. At FIU, in a Gordon Rule course, writing will be evaluated based on the following characteristics:

• Driven by a clear thesis or controlling idea.
• Supports thesis with adequate reasons and evidence.
• Displays sustained analysis and critical thought.
• Is organized clearly and logically.
• Shows knowledge of conventions of formal written English.
• Shows awareness of disciplinary conventions regarding content, style, form, and delivery method.

Reminders and Policies

1. Make sure that you proofread your work PRIOR to submission.
2. Upload a WORD DOCUMENT ONLY to Canvas.
3. Paper MUST be double-spaced. Use page numbers, but do not use title pages and/or page runners.
4. Use 12 pt. Times Roman typeface.
5. DO NOT ignore or write OVER the word count! Assignments that go over the word count will lose 10% of the final grade. (See rubric below). Word counts will be checked. Please put your word count at the bottom of the paper.
6. Don't forget to include a reference page at the end of the reaction paper. Visit The Roughwriter's Guide APA References Page by Dr. Karen Palmer for correct format.
7. Late assignments will not be accepted, and technical difficulties ARE NOT an acceptable excuse for late work. If you experience technical issues, contact Canvas Technical Support.
8. Students are encouraged and required to complete and submit original work created by them without the use of any automated tools (as outlined in FIU’s Student Conduct and Honor Code), including any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs in this course.This course utilizes the Turnitin Artificial Intelligence (AI) Writing Detection Tool.