Media Students’ Awareness in Egyptian Universities of the Relationship Between Algorithms Bias and Digital Oppression on Social Media Platforms: A Case Study of Assiut University’s Faculty of Media

Document Type : Original Article

Author

mass media department, Faculty of Arts, Assuit University

Abstract

The study examines the awareness of Egyptian university media students regarding the methods and tools of algorithmic bias and digital persecution on social media platforms, a topic of increasing importance given the growing influence of algorithms on information flow. The study aims to assess students' level of awareness of the concept of algorithmic bias, its forms, and its impact on freedom of expression, as well as to evaluate their understanding of digital persecution as an outcome of this bias. The research is based on the "Filter Bubble Theory," which explains how algorithms contribute to the creation of echo chambers that reinforce users' pre-existing views, leading to the marginalization of certain voices and content. To achieve its objectives, the study employed a descriptive survey methodology, utilizing focused group discussions with a sample of 32 media students from Assiut University. Data collection tools included questionnaires and open-ended in-depth interviews.
The study found that 78% of the sample had a clear understanding of the concept of algorithmic bias, while the term "digital persecution" was less familiar, with only 12.5% of participants reporting prior knowledge of it. The results also confirmed that algorithmic bias is highly visible on social media platforms, with 87.5% of respondents considering these platforms a fertile ground for digital persecution. Additionally, 90.6% of the sample regarded algorithmic bias as a serious ethical and professional issue affecting media content.
The most prominent forms of algorithmic bias identified by participants included the deletion of posts based on undisclosed agendas, banning pages with specific orientations, and controlling content reach. All participants (100%) agreed that digital persecution is a direct consequence of algorithmic bias. Moreover, 62.5% of respondents expressed a pessimistic outlook on the future of this issue, anticipating its worsening with the escalation of international conflicts.
 

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References

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