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A review by cromarty48
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
There are some good points in this book, but I think they don’t balance out the fundamental flaws.
Firstly, I think this is a book which would have been more accurate 5 years ago. The central premise of the text - that algorithms have pushed us all toward a sameness in our cultural consumption - perhaps was relevant at the height of the 2010s Millennial Instagram influencer culture and their love of the minimalist coffee shops the author describes. In 2024, TikTok (and the other platforms which have followed) have pushed us towards much more niche, personalised feeds and interests. My TikTok for you page is radically different to my brother’s. The author does acknowledge this but not that it fundamentally affects his premise? It would have been interesting to explore this further.
As others have commented, the author is commenting from a very privileged, snobby perspective. When I was reading the section about curators, I couldn’t believe he didn’t comment on the gate-keeping (financial/class/race etc) that exists regarding who culture considers a traditional curator. I’d argue algorithms actually enable a wider range of “curators” to reach an audience.
In addition, I found the book could have done with more editing - it’s repetitive and long-winded in parts.
I did find points about the lack of transparency in algorithms interesting and informative. It did make me consider my relationship with the algorithms I interact with on a daily basis and the companies which control them.
I also just don’t understand the premise - surely culture was more flattened when we all only had access to a few TV channels and TV only showed music videos from a few artists. Sure, algorithms also promote a certain pop sound, but so has “pop music” from day one! As the author acknowledges, TikTok promotes a different style - short hooks - but this is a difference in style, not a fundamentally new concept.
I didn’t hate this book, but I certainly won’t be recommending it to others.
Also, as I’m sure the author would hate, I initially came across this book on TikTok !
Firstly, I think this is a book which would have been more accurate 5 years ago. The central premise of the text - that algorithms have pushed us all toward a sameness in our cultural consumption - perhaps was relevant at the height of the 2010s Millennial Instagram influencer culture and their love of the minimalist coffee shops the author describes. In 2024, TikTok (and the other platforms which have followed) have pushed us towards much more niche, personalised feeds and interests. My TikTok for you page is radically different to my brother’s. The author does acknowledge this but not that it fundamentally affects his premise? It would have been interesting to explore this further.
As others have commented, the author is commenting from a very privileged, snobby perspective. When I was reading the section about curators, I couldn’t believe he didn’t comment on the gate-keeping (financial/class/race etc) that exists regarding who culture considers a traditional curator. I’d argue algorithms actually enable a wider range of “curators” to reach an audience.
In addition, I found the book could have done with more editing - it’s repetitive and long-winded in parts.
I did find points about the lack of transparency in algorithms interesting and informative. It did make me consider my relationship with the algorithms I interact with on a daily basis and the companies which control them.
I also just don’t understand the premise - surely culture was more flattened when we all only had access to a few TV channels and TV only showed music videos from a few artists. Sure, algorithms also promote a certain pop sound, but so has “pop music” from day one! As the author acknowledges, TikTok promotes a different style - short hooks - but this is a difference in style, not a fundamentally new concept.
I didn’t hate this book, but I certainly won’t be recommending it to others.
Also, as I’m sure the author would hate, I initially came across this book on TikTok !