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Algorithmic authenticity: Sociotechnical authentication processes on online travel platforms

Algorithmic authenticity: Sociotechnical authentication processes on online travel platforms This article discusses the touristic production of authenticity in the context of algorithmic culture. It notes that the dominant sociological framework of authenticity has, in the last decades, shifted from an objectivist to a constructionist one, a central issue becoming “who has the right to authenticate.” I argue here that “who” needs to be supplemented with “what” due to the operations of mainstream algorithmic platforms for the production and reception of travel information. Review websites such as TripAdvisor construct and confirm the authenticity of places and people through a double orientation of highly subjective, “hot” authentication processes and quantified appeals to “cool,” objective authenticity (Selwyn). This double orientation is explored in the algorithmic affordances of and user interactions on TripAdvisor. In conclusion, the article considers the sociotechnical fusion of both quantitative and experiential appeals to be productive of an algorithmic authenticity. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Tourist Studies SAGE

Algorithmic authenticity: Sociotechnical authentication processes on online travel platforms

Tourist Studies , Volume 19 (3): 26 – Sep 1, 2019

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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2019
ISSN
1468-7976
eISSN
1741-3206
DOI
10.1177/1468797619832314
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This article discusses the touristic production of authenticity in the context of algorithmic culture. It notes that the dominant sociological framework of authenticity has, in the last decades, shifted from an objectivist to a constructionist one, a central issue becoming “who has the right to authenticate.” I argue here that “who” needs to be supplemented with “what” due to the operations of mainstream algorithmic platforms for the production and reception of travel information. Review websites such as TripAdvisor construct and confirm the authenticity of places and people through a double orientation of highly subjective, “hot” authentication processes and quantified appeals to “cool,” objective authenticity (Selwyn). This double orientation is explored in the algorithmic affordances of and user interactions on TripAdvisor. In conclusion, the article considers the sociotechnical fusion of both quantitative and experiential appeals to be productive of an algorithmic authenticity.

Journal

Tourist StudiesSAGE

Published: Sep 1, 2019

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