Algorithms play an essential role in promoting sexualized bodies online because they are used to filter images, videos, adverts, and other forms of media that contain explicit content. This can lead to increased visibility for certain body types, which is particularly problematic when it comes to hyper-sexualized images.
When using search engines like Google Images or YouTube, users may be presented with results that feature more than just the nude body parts or suggestive poses that the query was intended to retrieve. Instead, these algorithms may prioritize images featuring specific body types or styles that have been linked to hyper-sexualization.
If someone searches "women's legs," they may find photoshopped pictures of long legs in heels, short skirts, or tight jeans instead of realistic representations of women's limbs. The same goes for searches about buttocks, breasts, or other body parts that are often associated with sexuality.
This can create a distorted image of what constitutes normal bodies, leading people to develop unrealistic expectations about their own appearance. It also reinforces negative stereotypes about women and men who don't fit into conventional beauty standards.
Algorithms are designed to maximize clicks and engagement, so they tend to promote content that will keep users scrolling and clicking. This means that sexually explicit material is likely to get higher rankings on the results page than less provocative imagery. As such, it becomes harder for viewers to escape from these hyper-sexualized images as they scroll through their social media feeds or browse through websites.
To counteract this trend, some platforms are taking steps to remove or reduce the prominence of certain types of content.
Instagram recently updated its policy regarding nipples after receiving backlash over censoring breast cancer awareness campaigns.
There remains a lot of work to be done before we see a meaningful reduction in hyper-sexualized content online.
Algorithms play a significant role in amplifying hyper-sexualized bodies online by prioritizing specific body types and styles over more natural ones. Until more progressive measures are taken, it will remain challenging for viewers to avoid being bombarded with images that objectify human physical attributes.
How do algorithms heighten the visibility of hyper-sexualized bodies online?
The visibility of hyper-sexualized bodies has been increasing online since the early days of the Internet, with websites like Playboy featuring nude models and pornographic videos becoming available for public consumption. The advent of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allowed people to share photos of themselves or others, often in suggestive poses that portrayed them as sex objects.