ALGORITHMS OF FAVORITISM: POWER WINS AGAIN

YouTube has emerged as a leading platform in today’s digital landscape, providing creators with an opportunity to articulate their perspectives, share their narratives, and champion meaningful change. With great power inevitably comes great responsibility. Although YouTube claims to maintain a fair algorithm that treats all creators and their content equally, there is increasing evidence and concern indicating that this may not be the case, especially regarding content that critiques the Indian government or addresses

human rights and governance issues in India. This prompts an important inquiry: Is YouTube’s algorithm genuinely unbiased, or does it prioritize the interests of the powerful while marginalizing dissenting voices?

YouTube’s inclination to promote content that aligns with the Indian government’s policies or presents it positively is a significant concern. A report by the Reuters Institute indicates that creators who support policies such as the government’s digital initiatives, infrastructure projects, or international diplomacy tend to achieve higher rankings and greater visibility on the platform. The algorithms appear to favor content that aligns with nationalist sentiments or supports government-endorsed narratives more than other types of content.

Creators who engage with government programs such as “Digital India” or “Make in India” tend to achieve a wider audience. Videos that highlight these programs or depict them as transformative solutions for India’s economy garner millions of views, often exceeding the creator’s subscriber base significantly. This indicates that YouTube’s algorithm is intentionally promoting this content prominently. Transitional phrases such as “on the other hand” highlight the concerning reality that content critical of these programs often lacks comparable visibility.

Conversely, creators who confront governmental policies or address topics such as press freedom, human rights violations, or the treatment of minorities in India are observing concerning trends. Numerous individuals have experienced the demonetization of their videos, restrictions on their reach, or complete removal, often based on unclear justifications. Content creators have observed that when they raise concerns about controversial policies such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or the farmers’ protests, their videos receive notably lower impressions than what they typically experience.

A survey conducted by The Quint reveals that a significant 65% of creators who produce content critical of Indian policies or governance experience algorithmic suppression. This results in their videos being ranked lower in search results or entirely excluded from recommendation feeds. This creates a situation where positive or uncritical narratives thrive, while opposing viewpoints are pushed into the background.

This imbalance impacts both the creators and the viewers significantly. When algorithms favor content that supports the government and suppress critical viewpoints, they create a distorted representation of reality. Viewers predominantly encounter content that upholds current power structures, limiting their exposure to alternative perspectives. The consequence is that those who are oppressed continue to go unheard, while those in power gain even more strength. This imbalance significantly detracts from the democratic potential that a platform such as YouTube could offer.

This dual standard creates a discouraging environment for creators. Numerous individuals refrain from engaging in discussions about sensitive topics or expressing criticism due to concerns about potential repercussions from the algorithm. This self-censorship hinders crucial discussions about governance, policy, and human rights, restricting the variety of viewpoints that YouTube professes to support.

YouTube’s suppression of critical content is at odds with its own terms and conditions, which highlight the importance of free expression and equitable treatment for all creators. YouTube’s official community guidelines clearly state that the platform is dedicated to offering “a space for a broad range of viewpoints and diverse creators.” However, its actions in the Indian context demonstrate a distinct departure from this principle. The algorithmic suppression of content critical of Indian policies represents more than an ethical concern; it constitutes a clear breach of YouTube’s own declared mission.

YouTube should take action on this matter by guaranteeing that its algorithms function transparently and impartially. The platform’s dependence on unclear algorithmic systems enables biases, whether intentional or not, to continue without scrutiny. Implementing transparency measures, like publicly sharing the criteria for content ranking and recommendations, has the potential to rebuild trust between creators and viewers. YouTube must establish safeguards to protect content that critiques governments or influential institutions from unjust penalties.

YouTube’s worldwide reach necessitates a commitment to maintaining democratic principles and safeguarding the right to free expression. The platform’s ongoing preference for one-sided narratives, coupled with the suppression of dissenting voices, poses a significant risk of alienating both creators and audiences. This approach could ultimately jeopardize its credibility.

YouTube must carefully reconsider and improve its strategy for content moderation in India. YouTube’s algorithms, by favoring government-aligned narratives and suppressing criticism, create an environment that undermines fairness and poses a threat to the core values of democracy and free expression. It is essential that creators who address governance, human rights, and policy criticisms are not subjected to penalties for expressing their viewpoints. They ought to be given the opportunity to engage in the diverse conversations that enhance the value of platforms like YouTube.

The differing standards in YouTube’s handling of content concerning Indian policies underscore a significant concern regarding algorithmic accountability. YouTube, as a global platform, must prioritize the implementation of algorithms that embody fairness and neutrality, avoiding the reinforcement of existing power dynamics. Addressing these concerns is essential for YouTube to genuinely achieve its mission of fostering free expression and diverse voices. The oppressed will continue to be silenced, allowing the powerful to maintain control over the narrative.