The Algorithmic Life of Travel Vlogs

Abstract

This chapter examines the tactics that travel influencers pursued to circulate popular content on YouTube. They gathered practical expertise on algorithms which has been widely shared on digital platforms by algorithmic experts. The abstract knowledge about algorithmic mediation has become a global form as it circulates on YouTube and Instagram. The chapter traces how YouTube videos portraying the tourism destination Chiang Mai are connected to further YouTube videos through the platform’s ‘related videos’ curation. Drawing on computational data about the recommender network, the case provides insights into how YouTube’s video recommendation algorithm suggests videos to its viewers. The algorithm predominately organised video content connected to vlogs on Chiang Mai into groups based on semantic similarities of video titles and keywords. The case study finds that the recommendation algorithm acts as a classification technology establishing hierarchical orders of travel video content and video subgenres.

Citation

Ritter, C.S. (2024), "The Algorithmic Life of Travel Vlogs", Locating the Influencer: Place and Platform in Global Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 65-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-597-420241005