By /

Habiba Karkat

Algorithmic Bias and the Representation of Black Women in Digital Spaces

Biography

As a Black woman, I’ve experienced firsthand how digital spaces can misrepresent, erase, or silence voices like mine. That’s why this project is so important to me; it’s not just research; it’s a reflection of a reality I know too well.

My passion lies in publishing, and my experience in community-based roles has only strengthened my commitment to ensuring that Black women are seen, heard, and represented in this industry. I wish to use the skills I’ve developed over the past four years in Professional Communication to build a strong, supportive community where our stories aren’t just included but centered.

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Details of Project

Black women, who have long shaped culture, are often erased, misrepresented, or silenced in digital spaces. Profit-driven algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy, amplifying harmful stereotypes while limiting authentic and diverse representation.

This research aimed to uncover how search engines and social media platforms reinforce these biases, disproportionately censor Black women’s voices and examine the ways Black women resist and reclaim their digital presence. Using content analysis and critical discourse analysis, I investigated Google search results and TikTok’s “For You Page,” tracking representation, engagement, and content moderation disparities and found that search results for “Black women” often reinforce stereotypes, and TikTok videos featuring Black women receive less engagement on social issues. Despite biased algorithms, Black women continue to push back, build community, and demand change. But will tech companies listen?

Lightning talk

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