Youth-Led Algorithmic Research

Investigating Gendered Algorithmic Harms

An independent research initiative studying how AI-driven recommendation systems amplify misogyny, harassment, and gender-based violence against young people in Malaysia.

Our Work ↓ Get Involved

What is algorithmic design without accountability but an invisible architecture, shaping beliefs and behaviours while remaining impossible to contest?

/ Mission

Our Mission

To investigate how AI-driven recommendation algorithms shape gendered perceptions and harms among Malaysian youth, and to translate this evidence into public knowledge, youth capacity, and practical tools that strengthen digital literacy and democratic resilience.

/ Problem

Social media algorithms increasingly shape what young people see, believe, and normalise about gender, identity, and power. In Malaysia, these systems amplify misogyny, harassment, and polarising content while remaining opaque, difficult to contest, and under-researched in local contexts. Youth are highly exposed but lack the tools to understand, monitor, or respond to algorithmic harms in real time.

/ What We Do

Three pillars of work

01
Research & Monitoring
Understanding what the algorithm does
  • Conduct profile-based "shadow account" testing on social media platforms
  • Analyse content ecologies, including visual media, memes, algospeak, and trends
  • Undertake literature review and comparative analysis
  • Run focus groups with Malaysian youth
  • Continuously monitor algorithmic shifts and emergent gendered harms
02
Youth Capacity-Building
Building a distributed youth observatory
  • Train selected youth campus leads in OSINT-based algorithm tracking
  • Establish a small, distributed youth observatory across four universities
  • Support youth-led documentation of algorithmic trends and harms
03
Knowledge Translation & Public Engagement
Making the invisible visible
  • Translate research findings into accessible insights
  • Produce short-form videos, infographics, and narrative explainers
  • Share timely analysis of emerging online phenomena
  • Convene public-facing forums or online discussions
/ Resources

What we bring

Research team (digital platforms, gender, youth culture)
Early-stage secured funding
Shadow account infrastructure
OSINT tools
Content analysis software
Youth participants across 4 universities
Academic & civil society partnerships

Work with us

We are looking for research partners, funders, and collaborators invested in algorithmic accountability, youth digital rights, and gender justice in Southeast Asia.

Get in Touch →