Filtering the Future

Author Kyle Chayka visited campus for a day of discussion, reflection, and student engagement centered on this year’s Community Read.

After a year spent exploring Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture as Eagle Hill School’s community read, students and faculty welcomed Kyle Chayka to campus on May 22 for a hands-on workshop and thoughtful community Q&A surrounding algorithms, AI, creativity, and digital culture, themes the community has been engaging with throughout the year.

The visit began with an interactive research workshop, where students had the opportunity to work closely with Kyle Chayka in a smaller setting. During the session, Chayka answered questions about his writing and research process behind Filterworld, giving students insight into how a project of that scale comes together. Students discussed everything from gathering research and organizing ideas to developing a central argument, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into writing and publishing a book examining digital culture and technology.

Drawing from his experiences as a writer for The New Yorker, he discussed the rise of algorithm-driven platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Netflix, and how they shape what people watch, listen to, and value online.

Later in the day, the entire school gathered for an all-school meeting featuring an in-depth presentation from Chayka. Introduced by Dr. Matthew Kim, Chayka reflected on the origins of Filterworld and explored how recommendation algorithms influence culture, creativity, and human connection. Drawing from his experiences as a writer for The New Yorker, he discussed the rise of algorithm-driven platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Netflix, and how they shape what people watch, listen to, and value online.

Chayka explained that algorithms are necessary tools for navigating the enormous scale of the internet, though he cautioned that society has become too reliant on them.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the student Q&A session, where students were able to ask questions they had been thinking about all year while reading Filterworld. One student asked, “What’s one positive thing about algorithms?” Chayka explained that algorithms are necessary tools for navigating the enormous scale of the internet, though he cautioned that society has become too reliant on them. Other students asked about AI-generated art and music, influencers, creativity, ethics in media, and the future of human connection in an increasingly digital world.

Chayka concluded by encouraging students to seek more “friction” in their lives by slowing down, thinking more deeply, and engaging more intentionally with the world around them rather than endlessly scrolling through algorithmically curated feeds.

Chayka concluded by encouraging students to seek more “friction” in their lives by slowing down, thinking more deeply, and engaging more intentionally with the world around them rather than endlessly scrolling through algorithmically curated feeds. His visit served as a meaningful culmination of this year’s community read and gave students the unique chance to engage directly with an author whose work sparked important conversations across campus throughout the year.