What Adam Aleksic has said about Social media algorithms

Aleksic argues that feed personalization is dangerous because it obscures how platforms benefit from what they show users.

“And I think the personalization is one of the most dangerous things because we really forget what's going on on a broader level”

TED Radio Hour: How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet (Aug 21, 2026) · Listen from 12:49

Aleksic argues that engagement-optimizing algorithms amplify far-left and far-right voices because extreme content captures attention.

“things that are good at getting attention are unfortunately really extreme things. So far left and far right opinions and voices are going to be amplified”

TED Radio Hour: How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet (Aug 21, 2026) · Listen from 46:58

Aleksic compares Donald Trump to John F. Kennedy, arguing that memeable candidates thrive on algorithms as photogenic ones did on television.

“if photogenic candidates were good on TV, memeable presidents are good for algorithms”

TED Radio Hour: How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet (Aug 21, 2026) · Listen from 47:50

Aleksic says that older generations are less literate about new media than young people and cites boomers falling for AI slop on Facebook.

“I actually think older generations are maybe more concerningly illiterate of the new medium”

TED Radio Hour: How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet (Aug 21, 2026) · Listen from 48:40

Aleksic distinguishes his optimism about young people's media literacy from his pessimism about algorithms' cultural effects.

“I'm an optimist for younger generations having literacy about this stuff. I am not an optimist in terms of algorithms and how they impact our culture”

TED Radio Hour: How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet (Aug 21, 2026) · Listen from 50:23