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Algorithms of Oppression
Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism | Safiya Umoja Noble
A revealing look at how negative biases against women of color are embedded in search engine results and algorithms Run a Google search for black girlswhat will you find? Big Booty and other sexually explicit terms are likely to come up as top search terms. But, if you type in white girls, the results are radically different. The suggested porn sites and un-moderated discussions about why black women are so sassy or why black women are so angry presents a disturbing portrait of black womanhood in modern society. In Algorithms of Oppression, Safiya Umoja Noble challenges the idea that search engines like Google offer an equal playing field for all forms of ideas, identities, and activities. Data discrimination is a real social problem; Noble argues that the combination of private interests in promoting certain sites, along with the monopoly status of a relatively small number of Internet search engines, leads to a biased set of search algorithms that privilege whiteness and discriminate against people of color, specifically women of color. Through an analysis of textual and media searches as well as extensive research on paid online advertising, Noble exposes a culture of racism and sexism in the way discoverability is created online. As search engines and their related companies grow in importanceoperating as a source for email, a major vehicle for primary and secondary school learning, and beyondunderstanding and reversing these disquieting trends and discriminatory practices is of utmost importance. An original, surprising and, at times, disturbing account of bias on the internet, Algorithms of Oppression contributes to our understanding of how racism is created, maintained, and disseminated in the 21st century.
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Pickpick

Writing a bunch of nonfiction reviews tonight!

Noble started her journey to writing this from a simple search looking for Black girls on the internet for kids. She was taken to pornography on the first Google page. 😔 She looks at the different ways major companies‘ algorithms disadvantage and stereotype BIPOC folks. Written before the 2016 election, she also forecasted the ways algorithms could funnel people towards hate groups, which happened.

BarbaraBB Hi Meg! 👋🏽 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB hey B!! 💜 I hope you‘ve gotten to 🇲🇦 safely! 2y
81 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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iread2much
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Mehso-so

Very heavy on theory, which I dislike, & a lot of repetitive information. I really appreciate the spotlight it puts on the importance of regulating Google, how important it is to force companies like Google to address the racist & biased structures they work with, and the potential impact (& danger) of all of our online data being archived and available. It highlights the importance of Information Literacy and need for change.
2/5 stars

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DarcysMom
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Jocelyn73c
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Pickpick

This is a MUST READ! Our info-seeking habits are almost exclusively focused on internet tools like Google & Yelp, but many of us don't know how these platforms work. Dr. Noble does an amazing job examining & exposing the predatory ways these companies colonize, monetize, restrict, manipulate, & distribute info. Digital media literacy is so important cuz we are effectively lied to by tech every day. We need more regulation & more librarians!

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MillennialP1nk
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Will be reading this intermittently between everything else I‘m reading #Oppression #Google #Nonfiction #Racism

CouronneDhiver Interesting! 6y
SW-T Another interesting book about search engines steering us in one direction or another is 6y
Chelleo I‘m stacking this even though it may not be good for my blood pressure 🤦🏾‍♀️ 6y
32 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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ness
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This whole graf is 🔥🔥🔥

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ness
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A must read for anyone—especially people who think Google is a neutral purveyor of information. (Spoiler alert: It‘s not.)

18 likes4 stack adds
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WanderingBookaneer
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Coming out on Feb. 20. #TBR

95 likes12 stack adds