Built in biases are determining who gets in the game!
In today's digital age, online dating has become a prevalent way for individuals to seek connections. But for Black women, this landscape can often be arduous to navigate. The data reveals a stark reality white men and Asian women receive the most interest, whereas black men and women receive the least. Black women also have to initiate contact significantly more than any other group just to receive a response. Yet continue to remain the demographic least likely to get a reply. Research has shown that this is not simply due to stereotyped beliefs about Black women. A significant influence are the algorithms determinations of who is presented and matched; they have been found to negatively bias responses to Black women. As a result, Black women are less likely to be matched or receive potential partner responses in online dating environments
Dr. Apryl Williams is an Assistant Professor of Communication, Media, and Digital Studies at the University of Michigan. She is also a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, a former Senior Fellow in Trustworthy AI at Mozilla, as well as an affiliated researcher at NYU's Center for Critical Race & Digital Studies. She is the author of Not My Type: Automating Sexual Racism in Online Dating. As a multidisciplinary scholar, Williams studies experiences of gender and race at the intersection of digital spaces and algorithmic technocultures. Her research has also been featured in Time Magazine, the New York Times, Wired, and other popular press outlets.
To learn more about Dr. Williams, click here.
Works by Dr. Williams:
THIS PODCAST WILL BE AVAILABLE DECEMBER 16.
Season 1, Episode 18
Running Time: TBA
