More Than a Glitch: A Humorous and Thought-Provoking Look at Tech Bias

"More Than a Glitch" is a book by Meredith Broussard that explores the role of technology in society, particularly how it can perpetuate social inequalities. The book argues that the idea of technology as a neutral force is a myth and that it's important to understand the ways in which technology can perpetuate and amplify biases and inequalities.

I recently read the book to occupy myself during boring lectures, and I have to say, it was a real hoot. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud while also making you think about the ways technology can perpetuate social inequalities, this is the book for you.

Broussard, a professor of data journalism at New York University, uses examples from the worlds of journalism, advertising, and criminal justice to illustrate her points. For example, she discusses how algorithms used in the criminal justice system can be biased against certain groups and how the lack of diversity in the tech industry can lead to products and services that only serve the needs of a narrow segment of the population.

Broussard's main argument is that technology is not a neutral force, despite what we may be led to believe. Instead, she argues, technology is shaped by the biases and values of its creators, and it can perpetuate and amplify social inequalities if we're not careful. And let me tell you, as someone who spends way too much time on social media, I can confirm that Broussard's argument is spot on.

One example Broussard discusses in the book is how algorithms used in the criminal justice system can be biased against certain groups. As a college student, I don't have any personal anecdotes about the criminal justice system, but I do have a story about a particularly terrible online quiz I took once.

It was one of those "Which Marvel Superhero Are You?" quizzes that are all over the internet. I was feeling particularly bored and decided to take the quiz just for fun. The quiz had a series of questions about my personality and preferences, and at the end, it was supposed to tell me which hero  I was the most like.

But when I got my result, I was shocked. According to the quiz, I was most like...Drumroll please...Kingo, Kumail Nanjiani’s character. Now, don't get me wrong, Kingo is a great character, but I couldn't help but feel like the quiz was biased against me because of my race. I'm Indian, and I couldn't help but wonder if the quiz was using stereotypes to match me with a character.

This may seem like a silly example, but it illustrates Broussard's point that technology is not neutral. Even something as seemingly innocuous as an online quiz can be biased and perpetuate stereotypes.

Another example Broussard discusses in the book is the lack of diversity in the tech industry. As someone studying computer science, I can tell you that this is a real problem. Tech companies are notorious for having mostly white, male employees, and this lack of diversity can lead to products and services that only serve the needs of a narrow segment of the population.

In my own experience in college, I've noticed that many of my male classmates are much more confident and assertive than my female classmates. This is something that is often attributed to societal expectations and gender roles, but it can also be linked to the lack of diversity in the tech industry. When you're constantly surrounded by people who look and act like you, it's easy to feel like you belong and to speak up and share your ideas. But when you're in the minority, it can be much harder to find your voice and assert yourself.

One of the things I appreciated about this book is that Broussard doesn't just point out the problems with technology; she also offers solutions. For example, she argues that we need to be more intentional about creating technology that serves the needs of all people, not just a select few. This means having a more diverse workforce in the tech industry, as well as being more deliberate about how we design and use technology.

As a college student, I think this is an important message. We're the next generation of tech workers and consumers, and we have the power to shape the future of technology. But to do that, we need to be aware of the biases and inequalities that exist in the industry, and we need to be proactive about addressing them.

Of course, it's not just up to individuals to solve these problems. Broussard also argues that we need systemic change, including better regulation of technology companies and more accountability for the harm that technology can cause. This is something that I think is especially relevant in light of recent controversies around social media and online privacy.

One personal anecdote I have about this is the time I accidentally shared a really embarrassing post on Instagram. I won't go into the details, but let's just say it involved a lot of typos and some ill-advised political opinions. I quickly deleted the post, but not before a few of my friends had seen it.

The experience made me realize how little control we have over our online presence, even when we think we're being careful. Social media platforms like Meta and Twitter collect massive amounts of data about us, and they can use that data to target us with ads, influence our opinions, and even sell our information to third parties. It's a little scary when you think about it.

Overall, I think "More Than a Glitch" is a book that all college students should read. It's funny, engaging, and thought-provoking, and it will make you see technology in a whole new light. Whether you're a computer science major or just someone who spends too much time on their phone, this book has something to offer. So, give it a read, and let me know what you think!

Broussard gives several examples of this in the book. For instance, she talks about how facial recognition software has been shown to be less accurate in identifying people with darker skin tones. This is because the algorithms used to train the software were based on data sets that were overwhelmingly composed of lighter-skinned people.

This might not seem like a big deal, but when you consider how facial recognition technology is being used by law enforcement agencies to identify and track individuals, it becomes clear that these biases can have serious consequences. If the technology is less accurate at identifying people of color, it could lead to innocent people being wrongly accused of crimes, or it could result in people being unfairly targeted by law enforcement.

As a college student, I think it's important to be aware of these issues and to think critically about the technology we use every day. We can't just assume that because something is new or innovative, it's automatically good. We need to ask questions like, who is this technology benefiting? Who is it harming? What biases might be built into the system?

One personal anecdote I have about this is the time I used a language translation app while conversing with a Tamil-speaking cab driver in the city of Chennai. The app was supposed to help me communicate with locals, but I quickly realized that it was translating things in a really awkward and sometimes offensive way.

For example, when I tried to negotiate for a reasonable price, the app translated my request as "take no more than a thousand rupees, you are looting us non-locals." This was not what I intended to say, and it made me look rude and insensitive. I realized that the app was using a literal translation of my words, without taking into account the nuances of the language or the culture I was in.

This experience made me realize how important it is to be mindful of the technology we use, especially when it comes to communication and cross-cultural interactions. We can't just rely on apps and algorithms to do all the work for us; we need to be aware of the limitations and biases of these tools, and be willing to put in the effort to communicate respectfully and effectively with people from different backgrounds.

In conclusion, "More Than a Glitch" is a book that challenges us to think critically about the technology we use and the impact it has on our lives. It's a funny and engaging read, but it's also a call to action. As students, we have a responsibility to be informed and engaged citizens of the digital world, and this book is a great place to start. So, pick up a copy, and let's get to work.