Understanding Algorithms and Power

Media Literacy in the RedNote Era

The migration from TikTok to RedNote raised big questions about how platforms shape what we see and believe Media literacy means looking at those systems not just the content We must ask who builds the algorithms and what values are hidden inside them

In Algorithms of Oppression Safiya Noble showed how search engines can reinforce racism and inequality She explained that platforms do not just show information They rank it filter it and shape how people are represented That power can be invisible and harmful especially to marginalized groups

When millions of Americans moved to RedNote they stepped into a new algorithm One that was built in a different country with different cultural values and biases Just like Google RedNote is not neutral Its design decides what goes viral what trends and who gets seen

Many users noticed how different the RedNote experience felt Some content types performed better than others Some creators thrived while others struggled to be visible These are not accidents They are the result of coded systems

By thinking critically about algorithms users can protect themselves from manipulation They can also push back That is what the RedNote migration really showed People did not just adapt to a new app They questioned the old one They chose a new space and changed how it worked together