S2, EP3: Navigating the Creator Blind Spot, Why Do Algorithmic & Moderation Biases Exist? A Conversation on Safer Internet Day at Soho Works 10 Jay

The American Influencer Council (AIC) held its first in-person event of 2023 on the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day to kick off Black History Month (BHM). On Tuesday, February 7, a small intimate group gathered at Soho Works 10 Jay in Brooklyn to discuss the 'Creator Blind Spot, Navigating Algorithmic, and Moderation Biases.' The AIC is a Black-Founded 501(c)6 not-for-profit membership trade association that prioritizes diversity and inclusion 365 days a year. Federally recognized heritage months like BHM provide an excellent opportunity to bring people together from all backgrounds to embrace culture and share knowledge and drive awareness on topics impacting vulnerable communities. "This month, the AIC is driving awareness of the unintentional harms that come from automated decision-making," said AIC Founder Qianna Smith Bruneteau. "At the AIC, we believe awareness is the first step to finding solutions that will create positive change." 

Quotes of Note from our Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs): 

1. "Many people show up on the Internet for the metrics and the hype. They're not showing up to serve or to help someone. And you truly do see a difference in your reach when you are here to serve rather than to get the likes." —Asa Dugger, Moderator, AIC Member 

2. “You have to remember whom you're creating for. I have so many people that say, I want to be an influencer. What do you want to influence? It's not the number of likes you get that will keep you going.” —Nneya Richards, Travel Creator and co-Chair of the AIC Public Goodwill Committee 

3. "The algorithm of life is also about putting the phone down, going outside, and touching the grass. You know, that's the stuff that's going to rejuvenate you to create and be more productive." —Visuals by Pierre, AIC Founding Member 

4. "Algorithms tend to be living, breathing things that evolve based on product priorities, company priorities, and company goals." —Simone Oliver, SVP of Digital Content, BET 

5. “There's the algorithms on these platforms and there's the algorithm of life, too. What are you choosing to engage with? You change these stories, you change the culture and you change the world.” —Rumi Chunara, Ph.D., Associate Professor at NYU Center for Health Data Science 

6. "If you are truly putting yourself out there  and have a core vision of what you are doing in social media as an  influencer. Your impact in the world will always come through." —Sidney Madison Prescott, Former Global Head of Intelligent Automation, Spotify 

7. “So when publishing your content, think of what someone is looking for in the simplest terms. What are the keywords, and how can I be prioritized to the top?” —Brandon Smithwrick, Head of Content at Songfinch 

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