The Negative Effects of Recommender Systems on the Unsuspecting User

The average everyday technology user is often unaware of how recommender systems influence their actions and behavioural patterns. Companies operating through or with the help of these systems inject their agenda into their recommendations giving a biased opinion – usually for economic gain – instead of suggestions based solely on the user's behaviour. These 'nudges' are unethical practices. This paper will look at recommender systems, their various types, and the proven negative effects they can have on their users. The paper will also seek to examine three of the most popular companies in the world that incorporate recommender systems into their services: Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon to see if their systems also perpetuate biases. Lastly, trust-based recommender systems are suggested as a feasible countermeasure to all the negatives of recommender systems.