"University Students' Perceptions of Algorithmic Bias Strategies on Social Media Networks During the Gaza War and Their Reactions

The current study addresses the issue of algorithmic censorship on social media in the context of the Israeli war on Gaza in October 2023. Amid this conflict, the proliferation of social media as a primary source for disseminating information has highlighted concerns about the manipulation and control of narratives through algorithmic mechanisms. This raises significant issues regarding the balance between freedom of expression on social networks and the content moderation algorithms of these platforms. The algorithms often implement a form of censorship that may classify any oppositional content as an abuse of freedom of expression, regardless of the legitimate grounds this content may have. As a result, debates and protests have emerged concerning what is perceived as an infringement on freedom of expression, and concerns have been raised about the emergence of political biases in the management of these platforms.
In this context, the research problem is defined as examining university students' awareness of the strategies of algorithmic bias on social media towards content related to the events of the Gaza War. It also explores the interactive behavior of the respondents in dealing with and directing these algorithms, linking this to the availability of digital literacy skills and algorithmic knowledge among the study sample.
The study results emphasized that understanding the algorithms controlling the display and organization of content can undermine freedom of expression on social media platforms, especially amidst geopolitical conflicts and events. The findings highlight the need to enhance digital literacy skills among users to enable them to effectively deal with algorithms and avoid biases.