We live in a world in which algorithmic technologies are dramatically shaping self-understandings and understandings of the world. This project helps us to make visible these realities and to think about ways we can challenge their effects, both individually in our everyday algorithmic practice, and collectively as groups of engaged algorithmic users.
My Algorithm and Me is a collaborative project created by an artist and an academic. Employing a range of critical/creative methodologies, and through a series of in-person workshops, a video essay/documentary (FRENEMY), and a digital crowdsourced database, we chronicle users’ algorithmic experiences. Our aim is to explore the experiences of young adults (aged 18–30) who engage with social media content algorithms in their everyday lives.
We welcome collaboration of all types.
About Us
Our collaboration began after Isabelle Higgins (a sociologist whose research explores the power of algorithms in reproducing structural inequalities that shape everyday life) and Josh Wirz (an interdisciplinary artist making work that engages with the politics of algorithmic visibility and digital shame) met at the Algorithms For Her? 2 conference in Sheffield in March 2023. In addition, we have been greatly assisted in the project by Paula Lacey, who joined us after attending one of our workshops.
Going forward, we are looking to run more workshops, continue to develop our virtual database, and raise funding so that we can complete our non-fiction short by the end of 2024. If you are interested in our project, please don't hesitate to get in touch.