The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation recommended that parents discuss with their children the operation of recommendation algorithms on the Internet and their impact on the perception of information, according to the Department for Organizing the Fight against Illegal Use of Information and Communication Technologies (UBK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
The department emphasized that talking about algorithms helps children understand who is managing attention and why. It is recommended to explain why advertising appears after one search, why friends' feeds differ, and why the service offers similar videos.
It is important to show that the platform does not reflect reality, but filters it and amplifies beneficial signals. The ability to notice the influence of algorithms and separate one's own desires from imposed ones is called a key part of digital literacy by experts.
Algorithms have long been a part of everyday life, especially for children. Videos, music, games, advertising, and news in the feed seem like a natural continuation of interests, but in reality, they are formed by recommendation systems. Their task is to retain attention, increase service usage time, stimulate purchases, and promote certain models of behavior.
The cyber police emphasized that the earlier a child becomes aware of the commercial and ideological influence of algorithms, the higher their resistance to manipulation in the digital environment.
