Rational by design: The effects of social media algorithms on human behaviour and self-identity in India.

Abstract

Rational algorithms exist all around us and are ingrained deeply in our lives. They claim to help us connect with people, information, and even our supposed future lovers. Although algorithms achieve most of their goals accurately, and humans benefit greatly from them, we as behavioural scientists cannot help but question at what cost? We acknowledge that these algorithms have simplified human life by reducing choice overload, but sometimes they also lead people to unfavourable long-term outcomes. We theorise this to be a result of the algorithms being designed for the ’Homoeconomicus’ rather than homo sapiens.