Google image search results for ‘three black teenagers’ cited as evidence of media racism
A simple Google image search has been used to highlight discrepancies in the broad portrayal of black and white teenagers on the web, with the term ‘three black teenagers’ returning a rogues gallery of police mugshots whilst a search for white teens pulls up mainly saccharine stock shots.
This marked difference in tone swiftly went viral on Twitter when Kabir Alli of Virginia posted a short video clip of himself conducting the search, much to the amusement of his friends.
YOOOOOO LOOK AT THIS pic.twitter.com/uY1JysFm8w
— July 3rd. (@iBeKabir) June 7, 2016
Not everyone was so amused by the findings however with some branding Google ‘racist’ but Alli pointed out that the automated algorithm was merely a product of an automated algorithm.
Speaking to Guardian Australia he said: “When I saw the results for myself I was shocked. The results were formed through the algorithm they set up. They aren’t racist but I feel like they should have more control over something like that.”