Explaining Resistance to Algorithmic Bias: The Impact of Feminist Consciousness and AI Literacy on Protest Participation in South Korea

As algorithmic systems increasingly mediate public life, understanding how individuals respond to algorithmic biases and discrimination has become a pressing concern.This study investigates two distinct yet interrelated reactions: algorithm aversion and social activism.Based on original survey data from 1,000 South Korean respondents, we examined how perceptions of algorithmic misogyny, exposure to biased artificial intelligence (AI), gender equality awareness, and AI literacy shape diverse behavioral responses.Contrary to common assumptions, exposure to algorithmic bias can mobilize social activism rather than foster withdrawal, particularly when coupled with a heightened awareness of gender equality.AI literacy produces a dual effect, encouraging activism while reducing distrust in algorithmic systems.These findings reveal the ambivalent roles of AI literacy and knowledge in shaping democratic engagement in AI-mediated environments.This study contributes to the emerging debates on perceptions of algorithms and protest in the age of algorithmic services.