How Do Algorithms Play a Role in Everyday Life? Here's the Survey!

Katadata Insight Center (KIC) collaborated with OMG Indonesia and TrendWatching to release the report Indonesia Middle Class in Motion: Smarter Choice, Wiser Spending at the Trend Maker Summit 2025 event.

One of the aspects surveyed was the public's views regarding the role of algorithms in daily life.

"Algorithms now curate almost everything we see, buy, and like," KIC wrote in its report.

Notably, 50% of respondents felt that algorithms can help them discover things they like.

Furthermore, 48.5% believed that algorithms can save time because the recommendations that appear mean they don't have to search one by one. This was followed by 35.5% of respondents who felt that algorithms can make their lives easier.

However, the presence of algorithms also raises concerns. As many as 24% of respondents felt that algorithms control their choices, and 20.1% believed that algorithms limit new things that can be discovered independently.

"People welcome algorithms when they help, not dictate; this highlights the need for digital systems that guide choices while maintaining freedom," KIC wrote.

This survey was conducted online among 463 middle-class respondents aged 17–59 years, spread across various regions of Indonesia. The respondents had monthly expenditures between Rp2 million and Rp10 million per capita.

Data collection took place from November 4–13, 2025, using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method.

The complete research results from KIC, Indonesia Middle Class in Motion: Smarter Choice, Wiser Spending, can be downloaded here.