JS-220.3 - Meta-Identity and Digital Platforms: the Influence of Algorithmic Decision-Making on Social and Personal Identities

This presentation defends the concept of meta-identity as a classificatory structure generated by algorithmic and human processes based on individuals' digital interactions and productions. Defined here as an algorithmically constructed identity model, meta-identity emerges from a continuous cross-analysis of personal, contextual, and behavioral data. It functions as a proxy identity designed by platforms to predict behavior, influence visibility, and modulate user experiences without being directly accessible or shaped by users themselves. Drawing on theoretical perspectives from sociology and communication studies, this article situates meta-identity within broader discussions of identity formation, categorization, and digital governance. Empirically, the study, in its development phase, encompasses 153 short films produced by 547 participants in audiovisual workshops, comparing how these works are categorized by authors, peers, external evaluators, and algorithmic systems. The analysis reveals patterns of convergence and divergence between human and automated classifications, highlighting the potential of algorithmic processes to reshape personal and social identities and influence content circulation. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for greater transparency and public oversight of the ways in which platforms produce and deploy meta-identities, which carry significant epistemological, cultural, and economic consequences.