Personalization, Echo Chambers, News Literacy, and Algorithmic Literacy: A Qualitative Study of AI-Powered News App Users

This qualitative study aims to illuminate the profound impacts of algorithmic processes on news audiences. The CAPI with 101 participants nationwide examines algorithmic news consumption from several interrelated perspectives, including personalization, news appreciation, echo chambers, algorithmic literacy, and news literacy. The study finds that users of AI-powered news apps often trust and even prefer algorithmic to human judgement but are concerned about missing out on important information and challenging viewpoints, as well as about their privacy. Many participants, while ambivalent about living with algorithm-based news recommendations, commonly exhibit a sense of comfort, appreciation, and gratification with personalized news feeds, calling the use of news apps a pleasant and satisfactory experience. While participants in general report being less active in searching information after using news apps, many participants believe that they are, ironically, more informed and knowledgeable now that they have the news apps.