Shaping Our Feeds
Shaping Our Feeds: Young People's Experiences of Social Media Algorithms, is a ground-breaking new project co-created by PROJECT ROCKIT and young people.
"When young people talk about 'The Algorithm,' they are often referring to the complex, data-driven systems that influence what they see, hear, and engage with online."
INSIDE 'THE ALGORITHM'
Shaping Our Feeds offers fresh, firsthand youth perspectives on the impacts of AI-driven algorithms, tackling the complexity of young people's digital lives today.
We've worked with young people at every stage to create:
⚡️ A co-written youth consultation report drawing on a survey of 1001 young people aged 12 – 20
⚡️ A youth-created video series bringing survey themes to life through lived experience
WATCH THE VIDEO SERIES
We're showcasing youth lived experience to bring Shaping Our Feeds findings to life.
Follow for videosINSIDE THE REPORT
We surveyed over 1000 young people aged 12 – 20 to learn more about their experiences of social media algorithms. Here's what we learned:
79% have been served positive content
A majority of young people surveyed had been served content by social media algorithms that they enjoyed or found useful.
54% have been served negative content
Just over half of young people surveyed have been served content by algorithms that they found offensive or inappropriate.
60% feel in control over what they see
A majority of young people surveyed reported that they feel in control over the content they see online.
INSIDE THE VIDEOS
Alongside the co-written youth consultation report, we're elevating the voices of our National Youth Collective to bring key findings to life. Explore perspectives below and follow @projectrockit for more.
WHAT IS THE ALGORITHM?
Young people share their understandings, assumptions, and questions about social media algorithms.
HOW I SHAPE MY FEED
Young people share the strategies, tools and habits they use to influence the content they want to see online.
IDENTITY & THE ALGORITHM
Lamisa shares her lived experience on how the algorithm has empowered her to have pride in her identity.
Youth-driven solutions
Our National Youth Collective highlight the nuances and sophisticated ways young people understand and engage with social media, as highlighted in the report with a focus on young people’s recommendations.
We want rich experiences
“Learning about marginalised communities, gaining new perspectives on sociopolitical issues, an ability to learn about myself and my mental health better than I would have on my own, study-related videos that have helped me with my education, educational videos that have helped me learn about the world…” – Survey Response
We want agency
“I have personally seen a rise in creators discussing what the algorithm is and how it works. I've also seen creators explain to users briefly how they can help boost their content by asking the user to "subscribe, follow, comment, share and like,” though this explanation of boosting content has been around for a while
now.” – Ayush, 15, VIC
We want healthy content
"As a young man, it's alarming to witness the rise of misogyny in online spaces… It's easy to get caught up in groupthink or to dismiss harmful comments as 'just jokes,' but these behaviours contribute to a culture that demeans and marginalises women. It's crucial for us, as men, to recognise our role in this and to actively challenge these toxic norms." – Mannon, 15, VIC
We want connection
“I personally I met my best friend of five years online and we have since met up, gone to concerts, hung out. It can be an amazing place when it is used correctly. The internet needs to be a safer environment to foster healthy and positive impacts. This can be done by filtering content, having a better process of vetting ages…” – Theo, 15, VIC