Fragments of this text have been previously published, but are all freshly milled here. Chapter 4 takes parts from “Want to be on the top?” (New Media & Society). Chapter 5 builds on pieces from “The algorithmic imaginary” (Information, Communication & Society) and chapter 6 has adapted sections from “Machines don’t have instincts” (New Media & Society). Probably there are many more fragments to be acknowledged, but the boundaries of a text are never easily delineated. Chapter 5 and 6 also benefited from financial support from the Digitization and Diversity project funded by the Research Council of Norway. Thanks to friends and family for their patience and support, and especially to my mom who never forgot to mention that there is more to life than writing a book. More than anyone I am grateful to Georg Kjøll for his unconditional love, superb editorial skills, music playlists, daily home-cooked dinners, and companionship; you make living and writing so much fun each and every day.
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Ack nowledgments