Filterworld author Kyle Chayka examines the algorithms that dictate what we watch, read and listen to. He argues that machine-guided curation makes us docile consumers. Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews You Only Call When You're in Trouble, a new novel from Stephen McCauley. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann.
Curzan says she gets a lot of.
Complaints about people using the pronoun they.
To refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Tanya Moseley.
Depending on what corners of social media you're on, chances are good you've heard this earworm of a song by the group Ocean Alley.
It's all about confidence, baby.
She was a confident lady.
The song is called Confidence, and the australian indie band released it five years ago.
But thanks to going viral, it's having a moment right now.
But whether it's having a moment on your feed, well, that's all up to the algorithm.
Writer Kyle Chica has been thinking about this for several years.
In his new book, Filter how Algorithms flattened culture, he writes about how we are fed algorithmic recommendations that dictate what music we like, how we interpret the news, what movies we consume, even what foods we eat, clothes we wear, the language we use, and the places we go.
And Cheka argues that all of this machine guided curation has made us docile consumers and flattened our likes and tastes.
Kyle Chica is a staff writer for the New Yorker, covering technology and culture on the Internet.