The Digital Silence: Algorithmic Hegemony and the Visibility Crisis of Non-Western Cultural Heritage in the Era of Generative AI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/wjimt.2026.09(03).03Keywords:
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Digital Colonialism, Algorithmic Hegemony, Cultural Heritage, Digital SilenceAbstract
As the paradigm of information retrieval shifts from traditional search engines to generative "answer engines," the role of algorithms has evolved from sorting information to synthesizing history. This paper argues that the transition to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) exacerbates existing cultural inequalities. Through the lens of digital colonialism and algorithmic curating, this study examines how the linguistic and data biases inherent in large language models lead to a "digital silence" regarding non-Western cultural heritage. By prioritizing Western-centric datasets, these systems inadvertently marginalize indigenous histories and non-textual cultural traditions, threatening the diversity of global cultural memory in the digital age.
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