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Cornell University Mann Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
https://cals.cornell.edu/communication/about-us/eventsAlgorithms, Abolition, and African American Youth Development: Theorizing and evaluating the impacts of socio-algorithmic systems on Black youth in the age of #BlackLivesMatter
Avriel Epps, Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University
1:30 pm in 102 Mann
The various ways Black adolescents partner with predictive technologies to co-construct their identities and process issues of racial (in)justice is a rich yet under-examined topic. Few developmental models that account for the algorithms embedded in youths' developmental ecologies exist, and this lack of theoretical framing for empirical work may explain the dearth of research on the opportunities and risks that socio-algorithmic systems pose for adolescent development. In this talk, I will introduce a human development model that contends with the socio-algorithmic ecology of the modern world that can inform and guide future child development research. With that, I will overview findings from an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study that measured the daily effects of interactions with biased algorithms on Black youths’ mental health and racial identity development. I will then overview an algorithmic audit conducted on YouTube’s search system's treatment of #BlackLivesMatter-related content at the height of the 2020 BLM protests. The discussion will conclude with insights into the transformative potential of racial justice movements in reshaping biased algorithms and contributing to the empowerment and improved mental well-being of marginalized youth in digital spaces.
Dr. Avriel Epps (she/they), a Civic Science Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University’s CATLab, holds a Ph.D. in Human Development from Harvard University and an S.M. in Data Science from Harvard’s School of Engineering. A scholar and advocate, Avriel’s research focuses on the intersections of algorithmic bias and identity development across racial and gender spectra. As co-founder of AI4Abolition, she is dedicated to building collective power with and around AI through open-source tools and AI literacy programs in marginalized communities. Avriel has been recognized and supported by The Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Roddenberry Foundation, and National Center on Race and Digital Justice. Her work is featured in both scientific journals and popular outlets, including The Atlantic and the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary "TikTok, Boom." She speaks to an audience of over 70k followers across Instagram and TikTok, with short form videos garnering over 23 million views. She is the author of the forthcoming A Kids Book About AI Bias.
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