Why do crazy stories that aren't true get so much traction, while really important actual facts sink into oblivion? Algorithms influence almost all the information you consume, from news stories, to social media updates, to movies, books, and television programs. Algorithms fuel the marketplace of ideas and ultimately grease the wheels of democracy. Algorithms can surface truths that improve our understanding of the world. And algorithms can perpetuate false information or distort the truth. In this session we will look at some surprising ways that algorithms make life better and some ways that algorithms distort our perception of reality. Understanding how algorithms control and manipulate your world is key to becoming truly literate in today's world.