Algorithmic Suppression and Cultural Moderation: A Cross-Cultural Framework for Authentic Creative Expression in Media Environments

This paper critiques how algorithms and media environments suppress originality while rewarding imitation. Drawing on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, Zajonc’s repetition principle, and Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra, I argue that digital platforms incentivize conformity through curated choice, dopamine-driven reinforcement, and the illusion of authenticity.