The Influence of Social Media Algorithms on Young People's Perception of Authority
Between Digital Validation and Institutional Contestation.
Keywords:
social media algorithms, institutional authority, informal authorityAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the influence of social media algorithms on young people's perception of authority. The topic is highly relevant in the context of declining trust in institutions, increasing social polarization, and the growing impact of digital environments on opinion formation and civic behavior. The research sought to analyze how social media algorithms shape the visibility and validation of different forms of authority, and how these mechanisms influence young people's attitudes toward institutional and informal authority. The study was conducted on a sample of 43 young individuals aged between 16 and 24 from Abrud, Alba County, Romania, including both high school and university students, selected through purposive sampling. The research method used was the semi-structured interview, which allowed for an in-depth exploration of perceptions, experiences, and attitudes regarding authority and algorithmic influence. The findings reveal that young people exhibit selective trust toward traditional institutions, favoring forms of authority based on transparency and justification. In contrast, influencers and content creators are perceived as legitimate sources of informal authority due to their authenticity, clarity, and alignment with personal values. Social media algorithms play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and norms, facilitating both the discovery of relevant content and the formation of echo chambers.
References
Abiri, G., & Guidi, S. (2023). From a Network to a Dilemma: The Legitimacy of Social Media. Stanford Technology Law Review, 26, 92–130. https://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Publish_26-STLR-92-2023_From-a-Network-to-a-Dilemma_AbiriGuidi6283.pdf
Akpinar, N.-J., & Fazelpour, S. (2025). Authenticity and exclusion: A simulation study of how social media algorithms shape visibility in epistemic communities. Synthese, 206(205). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-025-05293-z
CIRCLE (2025). Youth Trust in Peers, Local Government, and Institutions They See Taking Action. Retrieved from https://circle.tufts.edu
Ciorogar, A. (2018). Puterea auctorialit??ii: de la func?ia-de-text la pozi?ia-contextual?. Transilvania, (11–12), 55–64.
Costello, N., Sutton, R., Jones, M., Almassian, M., Raffoul, A., Ojumu, O., Salvia, M., Santoso, M., Kavanaugh, J. R., & Austin, S. B. (2024). Algorithms, addiction, and adolescent mental health: An interdisciplinary study to inform state-level policy action to protect youth from the dangers of social media. American Journal of Law and Medicine, 49(2–3), 135–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/amj.2023.25
Cotter, K. (2019). Playing the visibility game: How digital influencers and algorithms negotiate influence on Instagram. New Media & Society, 21(4), 895–913. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818815684.
Gamboa, Y. H. N., Jaboli, N. N. A., Pica, N. A. L., Rosales, L. J. D., & Lazaro, B. L. G. (2025). Long-term effects of algorithm-driven content consumption on youth development and psychological perceptions. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 5(3) 204238. https://doi.org/10.62225/2583049X.2025.5.3.4217
Grimmelikhuijsen, S., & Meijer, A. (2022). Legitimacy of algorithmic decision-making: Six threats and the need for a calibrated institutional response. Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 5(3), 232–242. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvac008.
De Groot, T., de Haan, M., & van Dijken, M. (2023). Learning in and about a filtered universe: Young people’s awareness and control of algorithms in social media. Learning, Media and Technology, 48(4), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2023.2253730.
Kingsley, B., & Hiswah, A. (2024). Algorithmic influence and youth psychology: Understanding how TikTok shapes Gen Z’s beliefs and behaviors. University of Duisburg-Essen Working Paper. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391325501
Palinkas, L. A., et al. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533–544.
Pérez-Escoda, A., Barrios-Rubio, A., Pedrero-Esteban, L. M., & Ávalos, C. (2024). Taking on social media as new gatekeepers among young people: A call upon digital literacy. Information, 15(4), 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/info15040180
Railean, E. (2021). The global context of open access to scientific publications. Akademos, (1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.52673/18570461.21.1-60.02.
Sun, H. (2023). The right to know social media algorithms. Harvard Law & Policy Review, 18(1), 3–57. https://harvardlpr.com/online-articles/the-right-to-know-social-media-algorithms/
Swart, J. (2021). Experiencing algorithms: How young people understand, feel about, and engage with algorithmic news selection on social media. Social Media and Society, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211008828
Yuan, Y., Zhang, X., & Liu, H. (2025). Resistance or compliance? The impact of algorithmic awareness on people’s attitudes toward online information browsing. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1563592. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1563592
