Social media platforms have become increasingly reliant on algorithms to promote content to their users, including erotic images and videos. While some argue that this has led to greater accessibility and increased visibility for all genders, others contend that it has reinforced harmful gender stereotypes and perpetuated negative body image ideals. This article will explore the ways in which algorithmically promoted erotic aesthetics may contribute to gendered double standards and how these double standards shape users' unconscious attitudes toward relational power and equity.
Let's define some key terms. Gender is a socially constructed category based on biological characteristics such as anatomy, genetics, and hormones that assigns individuals to male or female groups within a given culture. Double standards refer to unequal treatment based on gender, where one set of rules applies to women but not men or vice versa. Relational power refers to the ability to influence others' behaviors through personal relationships. Equity, meanwhile, involves providing fair opportunities, resources, and treatment to all people regardless of their identities.
Algorithmic promotion occurs when software programs are designed to analyze user behavior and preferences, then automatically suggest content that they believe users will find engaging. In the case of erotic content, this means that algorithms can determine what types of images or videos users like most and deliver more of them over time.
There are concerns that this approach may reinforce existing power imbalances between men and women.
Research suggests that algorithmically promoted images of women tend to focus on their bodies rather than their faces or personalities, while those of men often showcase their achievements or intellect. This can lead to a narrow view of gender roles that emphasizes physical appearance over other qualities.
The problem with this trend becomes apparent when we consider how it affects users' beliefs about relationship dynamics. Studies have found that exposure to hypersexualized images of women leads men to expect a higher level of sexual availability from their partners, while also increasing their belief in rape myths - i.e., that it is the woman's responsibility to prevent herself from being sexually assaulted. In addition, these images may encourage men to objectify and dehumanize women, further damaging interpersonal relationships.
On the flip side, women who consume erotic content featuring men may internalize a sense of powerlessness and passivity, believing themselves to be subservient to male desires. They may feel pressure to conform to certain body ideals or behavior patterns, even if it goes against their own values and interests.
The effects of algorithmic promotion can be subtle but significant, shaping attitudes without individuals even realizing it.
We must ask ourselves: Is algorithmic promotion truly equitable? Do the benefits outweigh the potential harms? And what role do we play in creating more balanced and respectful representations of both genders? These questions are complex and multifaceted, but they require serious consideration as we navigate our increasingly digital landscape.
To what extent do algorithmically promoted erotic aesthetics reinforce gendered double standards, and how do these double standards shape users' unconscious attitudes toward relational power and equity?
The prominence of algorithmically promoted erotic aesthetics on social media is increasingly shaping online interactions among young people and has the potential to contribute to the perpetuation of harmful gendered double standards that can negatively impact both women and men. The objectification and sexualization of individuals in these images often reinforces a narrow view of beauty, which privileges certain body types and physical features over others, such as thinness, tallness, or whiteness.