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3352Algorithmic imaginary refers to an individual’s awareness and emotions towards an algorithmic system, as well as its related folk theories and resulting algorithmic behaviors. The subjective cognitive impact of this algorithm on individuals and digital platforms is no less significant than that of objective algorithmic models, but there is little research on it. In order to better promote the research progress of algorithmic cognition and behavior, this paper systematically reviews the research related to algorithmic imaginary, and integrates relevant literature scattered in multiple disciplines based on the perspective of imaginary affordance, aiming to clarify the relatively vague concept of algorithmic imaginary and related research.
This paper mainly answers the following questions by combing relevant literature: (1) How to understand algorithmic imaginary in human-computer interaction? (2) How do users form algorithmic imaginary? (3) How is algorithmic imaginary reflected in social media practice? First, this paper sorts out the original connotation of algorithmic imaginary and previous measurement methods, and finds that the concept of algorithmic imaginary proposed by Bucher cannot fully summarize the “imaginary practice”, and lacks a holistic description of the complex process of knowledge and action of users. With the support of the theory of imaginary affordance, this paper further clarifies the connotation and extension of the concept of algorithmic imaginary. Second, from the three dimensions of mediation, emotion and materiality, the existing research is divided into four directions: algorithmic awareness, algorithmic emotions, algorithmic folk theories and algorithmic behaviors. Algorithmic awareness means the extent to which people are aware of the algorithm’s presence in online space; algorithmic emotions are the invisible feelings and values that algorithms help to imply; algorithmic folk theories are the intuitive and informal theories developed by individuals to explain the output, impact, or outcome of technical systems; algorithmic behaviors are what people do in response to and using algorithms. This paper systematically reviews the four research directions and summarizes the relationship between them and algorithmic imaginary. On this basis, we propose a path through which awareness, emotions, and folk theories interact within the subject and ultimately comprehensively influence user algorithmic behaviors. Finally, this paper points out potential research directions such as digital inequality and algorithmic interaction in the Chinese context.
The main contributions of this paper are as follows: First, from the perspective of imaginary affordance, it expands the conceptual boundaries of algorithmic imaginary and points out the key role of algorithmic imaginary in the “algorithm-user” relationship. Second, it provides a possible explanatory path for clarifying how individual initiative affects the landscape of digital social media platforms. Third, it provides a reference for public technology acceptance and algorithmic education in practice.
