A era dos algoritmos: o impacto das redes sociais na democracia

Abstract

This work addresses the worrying impacts of social networks on democracy. It will analyze how digital platforms use their algorithms to direct users' attention in order to manipulate human psychology and influence society. To maintain user’s attention, algorithms personalize content, creating “echo chambers” that reinforce existing innovations and can lead to radicalization. Thus, the research problem consists in understanding how social networks, based on the functioning of their algorithms, can impact democracy. To carry out this study, a qualitative approach and hypothetical-deductive method were used, by collecting data and information from books, scientific articles, specialized magazines and electronic websites. As we concluded, we observed that digital platforms have the ability to influence electoral processes around the world as well as manipulate human behavior through the dissemination of misinformation and extremist content.