From algorithms to the self: understanding algorithmic alienation in the digital age

This study explores the psychosocial effects of algorithmic systems on individuals in digital environments and conceptualizes Algorithmic Alienation as a framework for understanding these effects. A qualitative design was employed using four focus groups (N = 20) with participants aged 18–30 and 31–50. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in Turkish, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed within an interpretivist paradigm using reflexive thematic analysis. Analytic rigor was supported through researcher reflexivity and iterative coding, with theme development guided by analytic dialogue among the research team to enhance interpretive depth rather than to establish inter-coder reliability, in line with COREQ criteria. Five overarching themes captured participants’ experiences. Participants described recognizing algorithmic steering alongside an accompanying sense of illusory choice, as well as a gradual weakening of decision-making habits and an increasing reliance on automated content consumption. Repeated exposure was associated with perceived shifts in interests and experiences of identity ambiguity, accompanied by feelings of detachment and emotional discomfort. Some participants reported developing resistance strategies, such as deliberate content searching or reducing platform use. Overall, the findings indicate an ongoing tension between perceived autonomy and an emerging awareness that personal preferences are being shaped by external algorithmic mechanisms. Findings suggest that participants experienced algorithmic environments as influencing not only what they consume but also how they interpret their sense of self and agency. To conceptualize this multifaceted process, this study refines the notion of Algorithmic Alienation as a subjective experience] marked by diminished autonomy, blurred identity boundaries, and emotional disconnection. The results highlight the need for increased algorithmic transparency, digital literacy, and further research into how such experiences vary across age groups, cultural contexts, and platform types.