Research Symposium

BIO

Valeria Bohorquez is a freshman at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Chemistry and Child Development. She is dedicated to intellectual curiosity and academic excellence as a member of the Honors Program, building a strong foundation for a future in healthcare. Her studies blend interest in population health with the scientific understanding required for a career in health.
Valeria is learning more about the biological, environmental, and social factors that influence health and patient care through her courses. She is particularly interested in how public health approaches can enhance patient experiences, improve communication, and promote better health outcomes in dental and medical settings. As an Honors student, she looks for opportunities that push her intellectually and provide her the chance to interact directly with peers and faculty mentors who share similar goals.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Valeria intends to attend dental school. She hopes to have a deeper understanding of the scientific and behavioral elements of patient care by integrating her background in public health and chemistry. Her academic path demonstrates her commitment to being an informed and kind dentist who can improve the health and wellbeing of others.

Online Information Ecosystems: Teens, Social Media, Algorithms

Abstract

Social media algorithms shape the information adolescents and young adults encounter daily, yet less is known about how students understand and experience this influence. This study examines how educational level relates to algorithmic awareness and perceived control over social media content. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, we hypothesized that college students would report greater awareness of algorithmic influence and more intentional efforts to shape their feeds compared to high school students.

Undergraduate students at Florida State University were recruited through campus posters and Anne’s College Study Pool, with additional data collection ongoing for high school participants. The online survey included Likert-style and open-ended items organized around three factors: Algorithmic Social Boundary Blurring, Cross-Platform Algorithmic Synchronization, and Algorithmic Awareness and Control. Participants also submitted examples from their “For You” pages and recent search activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify patterns between engagement behaviors and recommended content.

Preliminary findings indicate that likes, searches, shares, and watch time strongly influence social media recommendations. Even minor interactions, such as partially watching a video, appeared to shape subsequent content. Early comparisons suggest college students’ feeds reflect more academic-related interests, while high school students’ feeds emphasize social and hobby content. These findings highlight the importance of algorithmic literacy and intentional engagement in shaping students’ online information ecosystems.

Keywords: Algorithms, Social Media, Teens