Rage Against the Algorithms: The Case of Activists in the Italian City of Naples
Contrary to the perspective of technological determinism (Marres, 2017), individuals are aware of the role algorithms play and develop "folk theories" (Dogruel, 2021) to explain their functioning. These folk theories are employed for various purposes, including attempts to tame or subvert algorithms and AI by repurposing them for unintended uses. Such practices, termed algorithmic resistance, have been documented in contexts like delivery platforms (Tuomi et al., 2023) and among Instagram influencers (Bonini, 2022), where individuals are more cognizant of algorithmic impacts and thus more inclined to develop counter-strategies.
Activists were selected as the focus of this research for two primary reasons: (a) in the realm of online politics, they frequently engage in direct interactions and confrontations with algorithms; and (b) they approach these technologies with a set of values often at odds with the underlying logic of the algorithms.
Between April and May 2024, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 activists. The participants demonstrated a repertoire of both evasive and proactive practices, informed by their folk theories regarding algorithmic operations (Karizat et al., 2021). The findings underscore the necessity to reconceptualize the human-digital relationship as one of mutual influence rather than a unidirectional interaction. Furthermore, the study offers valuable insights into the strategies activists employ to resist or counteract algorithms in their political activities on social media platforms.