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# Wiki Tutorial

### Reflection on "**[Agnotology and Epistemological Fragmentation](https://points.datasociety.net/agnotology-and-epistemological-fragmentation-56aa3c509c6b)**"

While agnotology and epistemological fragmentation are words I was initially unfamiliar with in Danah Boyd’s speech,  these concepts are prevalent within digital culture today. Citing terrorist attacks such as the **[Christchurch shooter](https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/3/16/18266930/christchurch-shooter-manifesto-memes-subscribe-to-pewdiepie)**, Boyd argues that these acts of violence were a result of agnotology, or deliberately caused ignorance. Radicals have strategically “beat” the algorithm of sites like YouTube, filling innocent users’ homepages with false and harmful content. These videos thus contribute to epistemological fragmentation, where multiple versions of the “truth” are presented, confusing audiences and forming opposing sides. 
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rtBvQj2k6xo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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##### Prager U is a YouTube channel full of right wing ideals that often lead viewers down rabbit holes of anti feminist and leftist ideologies. With their innocuous titles, they often dodge YouTube's algorithm and attract millions of views.
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Boyd assigns the burden onto the listeners by asking us to navigate these platforms and ensure that high quality content is seen in place of those that create epistemological fragmentation. I disagree: the burden must be shared with the companies themselves. YouTube can and should change their algorithms, ensuring that equal amounts of content appear, and that it isn’t easy for one “side” to flood the market. In addition, they need to police content- it should not be on the users to discern what is harmful and what is not. I do agree that we need to work harder on awareness, as many do not understand the algorithm or how to manipulate it. I wonder if there is a relationship between awareness and digital literacy, and whether these “rabbit holes” disproportionately affect digital natives or immigrants. Are natives less susceptible because of their digital literacy? Or are they more likely to go down the rabbit hole? Does generation matter at all when it comes to agnotology?
