Algorithmen, Extremismus und die Aufmerksamkeitsindustrie

Abstract

This paper describes the use of algorithms as an important tool for social media companies to maintain and increase the attention of their users. Attention and engagement time are the most important factors for these companies as they are stron­gly intertwined with the advertising industry – and thus more time means more reve­nue. However, the mere focus on attention, e.g. on click numbers, has meant that right-wing extremism in particular has been able to profit on social media platforms in recent years.