The 10th Conference of the Spanish Association for Communication Research (AE-IC), held in Pontevedra from May 19 to 22, 2026, under the theme “Communicating in Uncertainty,” provided a key space for debating the role of algorithms in shaping contemporary communication practices. Among the contributions presented, the studies conducted by the ALCOM team stood out, addressing the relationship between algorithms, media, and citizenship from complementary perspectives.
On the one hand, Adriana Monroy, Andrea Angulo, and Celina Navarro presented their work on “Mediatizations of the Relationship Between Algorithms and Youth in the Spanish Press.” This study examines how news media discursively construct the link between algorithmic systems and young people, identifying interpretative frames that range from concerns about risks (misinformation, addiction, loss of autonomy) to narratives of opportunity (personalization, access, participation). This approach makes it possible to understand not only what is said about algorithms, but also how their social meaning is shaped in relation to youth.
On the other hand, Xavier Ribes, Fernanda Pires, Gemma Gómez Bernal, and Lluc Massaguer presented the study “Negotiating Algorithmic Autonomy: Pathways of Audiovisual Discovery and Choice on Digital Platforms.” This research focuses on user practices within platform environments, exploring how individuals negotiate their capacity for choice in relation to automated recommendations. The findings point to a situated and dynamic form of autonomy, in which users combine strategies of acceptance, resistance, and exploration within the boundaries defined by algorithmic systems.
Both contributions converge on a central idea: the relationship between users and algorithms is neither static nor unidirectional, but rather the result of processes of mediation, interpretation, and negotiation. In a context of increasing dependence on digital infrastructures, these studies highlight the importance of developing critical frameworks to better understand and question the role of algorithms in everyday life.
