Algorithmic Censorship and Language Evolution
Algorithmic censorship is changing the way people communicate, particularly on social media platforms. The emergence of slang, known as "algospeak," is a response to top-down censorship, where users adapt their language to avoid content deletion and account bans.
Examples of algospeak include using "nip nops" to refer to nipples, an eggplant to represent a penis, "unaliving" instead of killing, and "kermit sewerslide" to describe suicide. This phenomenon is not a result of teenagers being immature, but rather a creative way to circumvent censorship algorithms.
Teens are not overgrown infants, but rather, they are responding to top-down censorship with a bottom-up approach.
- Social media platforms have implemented policies to appease advertisers and politicians, leading to the deletion of content and account bans.
- Algorithmic promotion and demotion of content can subtly nudge users towards certain types of language and expression.
The book "Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language" by Adam Aleksic explores this topic in depth, examining the impact of social media on language and communication.
Author's summary: Algorithmic censorship shapes online language, driving the emergence of "algospeak" as a response to social media rules.