
How “Doing Your Own Research” Is Manipulated for Political Gain
Mon, Jun 17
|Highlands
Although we might have an intuitive sense that our search results are not returning complete or accurate information, how many of us realize that the search queries we use – our starting points – and our keywords drive those returns in very specific ways?


Time & Location
Jun 17, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Highlands, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
About the Event
For most of us now, the internet is the predominant source we use to obtain information. Although we might have an intuitive sense that our search results are not returning complete or accurate information, how many of us realize that the search queries we use – our starting points – and our keywords drive those returns in very specific ways? In other words, our personal biases as reflected in the search terms we select can affect the content of the information generated and how it is presented to us. The results of our searches are driven by algorithms that, by design, optimize and weaponize political polarization, leading us down rabbit holes that threaten democratic processes. This presentation will explain the results of Professor Tripodi’s research into the mechanics of internet political manipulation and how we can protect ourselves against it.