5 Redefining amplification
This chapter covers
- Motivations for measuring amplification
- How to use amplification as an anomaly detection tool
- Concrete and operationalizable definitions of algorithmic amplification
Defining and measuring amplification is primarily a question of power: who controls the measurement tools controls the narrative. Furthermore, it’s a tool that can help understand if a niche or extreme view is being pushed in the mainstream.
In the previous chapter, we listed several reasons why measuring algorithmic amplification differs significantly from measuring other physical quantities, such as speed or temperature. Even with all the limitations and caveats, it’s still important to attempt a concrete definition, given the significant impact that recommender systems—those embedded in social media in particular—have on our lives. Furthermore, the definition of amplification is not a purely academic exercise; rather, it has numerous real-world consequences, as we will see in the following chapters.