Social media algorithms excel at convening well-meaning people rapidly in a good cause.
The outcome can become overwhelming and deeply harmful for the people they are ostensibly helping.
In a new article for @datasociety with @williamrfrey, we introduce the term "Savior Swarming" to share examples and describe how these tragedies might happen.
I'm so grateful for William's thoughtful leadership & ethnographic work on this idea
https://medium.com/datasociety-points/when-kindness-kills-21a69e5ec1dd
@natematias @datasociety @williamrfrey from the described it appears this is an extraordinary case of one community reaching out in an uncoordinated way to help another community. Certainly worth investigating tactics and strategies to align such energy. Sounds like an exceptional opportunity for awareness development and campaigning for interventions that are desirable.
One question: would you consider that the algorithms have anything beyond a catalyst effect in these events?
@mapto @datasociety @williamrfrey@mastodon.sociagreat question!
The challenge in all of these cases is that coordination is rendered impossible by the scale and acceleration of newcomers to the situation, with recommender systems amplifying the entities that are least investing in thoughtful coordination due to the wide appeal of saviorism.