By Tim Wijkman-van Aalst
12 Sep 2023 at 00:00
More than one in three online platforms such as bol.com, Marktplaats and Amazon use algorithms to help visitors or even direct their purchase. Less than half of all these websites are honest about how their systems work.
You are constantly influenced online. If you search for a professional on Werkspot, for example, buy a second-hand bicycle on Marktplaats or order food via Thuisbezorgd, you will unknowingly encounter algorithms. One in three online platforms makes this, according to the statistics agency CBS use of.
Algorithms determine what you see on a website or in an app, but also what you do not. They are usually designed to show you the best results that match your interests. But sometimes algorithms influence your choice. For example, by only showing a more expensive product if the system knows what you are looking for.
It is not always clear to visitors to online platforms how the algorithms work. Less than half of these websites provide information about how their algorithms work globally.
Many online platforms are also not fair about the way advertisements are selected for visitors. According to Statistics Netherlands, only four in ten websites provide information about how their advertising systems work.
Some online platforms allow sellers or service providers to pay to rank higher in search results. Not all websites are honest about this either. On 28 percent of the websites examined, it is not stated that it is a sponsored search result.
Beeld: Getty Images
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Central Bureau of StatisticsTech
2023-09-11 22:00:15
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