The traditional male gaze functions through a specific, recognizable lens. It is a directed look, often cinematic or artistic, that positions women as passive objects for a presumed heterosexual male viewer. This gaze is often intentional and episodic, occurring in movies or advertisements. Because it has a clear source, society can identify and critique it.
The algorithmic gaze operates differently. It isn't a person looking; it is a math-driven loop. Algorithms on platforms like Instagram or TikTok don't care about gender politics or artistic intent. They only care about engagement. If certain types of sexualized content keep users scrolling, the machine feeds them more. This creates a feedback loop that feels natural rather than forced.
This difference changes how we become desensitized. While the male gaze teaches us how to look at women, the algorithmic gaze trains us to consume them as mere data points. It turns objectification into a constant, background noise. Because the content is personalized and endless, the brain stops flagging the objectification as a specific problem. It just becomes the standard way the feed looks. We don't notice the bias because the machine makes it feel like our own preference.
