Instagram versus women of color: Why are women of color protesting Instagram's algorithmic changes?

TL;DR

Women of color actively protest Instagram's algorithmic changes, especially those favoring video content, due to concerns over marginalization and loss of community connection, prompting Instagram to revert the updates.

Contribution

This study provides qualitative insights into why women of color resist algorithmic updates on Instagram, highlighting the need for inclusive design considerations.

Findings

WOC resist algorithmic changes that favor reels over static media.

Backlash from WOC led Instagram to rollback recent updates.

Community protests influence platform policy adjustments.

Abstract

Instagram has been appropriated by communities for several contemporary social struggles, often translating into real world action. Likewise, women of color (WOC) have used it to protest, share information and support one another through its various affordances. However, Instagram is known to have frequent updates, and recently the updates have been more drastic. The newest update changed the recommendation algorithm such that it showed video-oriented content (reels) from unknown accounts over static media from a user's own network. Several marginalized communities, and especially WOC resisted this change and others that led to it. Due to the backlash, Instagram rolled back its changes. Drawing from past HCI work on digital platforms for marginalised communities, I propose a qualitative study informed by the open research strategy to understand why WOC are resisting these changes, and eventually provide implications for design that can help implement changes in a more inclusive manner.