10 points. List all group member names. Each person submits to the discussion board.
“Spy for a Day”: Reverse Engineering an Algorithm
Goal: Understand how platforms infer interests and categorize users.
How it works:
- In small groups, students pick a platform (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Amazon, Spotify, etc.).
- Your job is to figure out how the platform’s algorithm would categorize a hypothetical user.
- Give them a fictional case study.
- Groups predict:
- What ads the user will get
- What videos will appear
- What “interests” the platform assigns to the user
What data inferences the platform makes about the user's life situation. How is the person categorized?
Mini-presentation: Groups share their findings.
Case Studies:
Group 1
Maya, 18, psychology major, recently searched “best planners for college,” follows several mindfulness accounts on Instagram, and routinely listens to true‑crime podcasts during her morning commute.
Rowan, 20, history major, spends hours photographing old payphones and posting them with dramatic captions like “RELICS OF A FORGOTTEN AGE.” Recently joined multiple Facebook groups dedicated to abandoned malls, follows urban‑exploration accounts, and searches YouTube for “elevator fan remixes.”
Casey, 52. Restoring classic cars, Family travel,, Local history archives, Military memorabilia, Amateur radio, Online forums about “lost Cold War technologies,” Prepper culture and disaster‑readiness channels
Group 2
Jordan, 20, undecided major, has been browsing sites comparing budget laptops, likes posting basketball highlights on TikTok, and recently spent time reading reviews for protein powders.
Kei, 19, meteorology minor, posts daily videos tracking the movement of a single cloud visible from their dorm window.
Frequently searches “raindrop slow‑motion footage,” interacts heavily with storm‑chasing TikToks, and has bookmarked dozens of niche humidity-measurement tools.
Marlene, 61. Gardening tutorials, Baking groups, Cozy-mystery book clubs, Rescue pets, Vintage home décor, True‑crime livestreams, Online communities discussing “psychic crime solving”
Group 3:
Elena, 19, art major, looked up “how to clean paint brushes without chemicals,” frequently scrolls Etsy for handmade jewelry, and watches late‑night ASMR videos to fall asleep.
Lila, 18, undecided major, posts long rants about how triangular pasta shapes are morally superior to all others.
Watches “unusual food combinations” channels, recently Googled “is it dangerous to eat only pickles for a day,” and follows accounts dedicated to rating the crunchiness of vegetables.
Gregory, 58, Outdoor sports, Nature photography, Local politics, Economic policy debates, Independent journalism channels, “Alternative energy conspiracies” communities,Videos questioning historical events
Group 4:
Malik, 21, computer science major, recently asked Google Maps for “fastest route to a gym nearby,” plays online strategy games after class, and subscribed to several subreddits about building a home PC.
Theo, 21, architecture student, obsessively photographs tiny objects for scale—pencils next to skyscrapers, coins next to trees, etc.
His search history includes “DIY tiny houses for hamsters,” “how to make miniature streetlights,” and niche 3D printing forums.
Lena, 47 — Interests: Yoga and holistic health, Indie music from the 1990s, Crafting and DIY, Marine conservation, Meditation livestreams, Fringe “biohacking” influencers, Discussions about unregulated supplements
Group 5:
Brianna, 18, nursing student, spent the weekend researching “healthy meal prep for busy schedules,” uses Pinterest for dorm decor ideas, and watches streaming videos about puppy training.
Nessa, 19, English major, posts vague and intense motivational quotes that she writes herself, such as “The algorithm knows not what I dream.”
She follows conspiracy‑themed productivity channels, recently searched “why is my phone listening to me,” and likes content about symbolic dream analysis.
Douglas, 66 — Woodworking, Grandparenting blogs, Documentaries about global conflicts, Gun‑collector history groups, Classic literature, Online marketplace deals, Debate channels about “private militia lore”
Group 6
Roger, 21, engineering major, recently googled “cheap flight home,” likes cats, watches cooking videos at night.
Felix, 22, business major, documents every unusual lost object he finds on sidewalks—single gloves, broken earbuds, toy arms—and labels them “FORGOTTEN TREASURES.” He frequently searches “rare discontinued soda flavors,” follows unboxing channels for obsolete tech, and participates in forums dedicated to cataloging weird thrift‑store finds.
Anita, 54. Bird‑watching, Local community service groups, Science explainers, Paranormal podcasts, DIY home repairs, Retro PC hardware, “Urban exploration” videos of abandoned sites
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