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“For example, according to Lewis, the algorithm might keep showing a post whose question has been answered. And it might deprioritize posts from new members tha
by code_duck 8y ago
“For example, according to Lewis, the algorithm might keep showing a post whose question has been answered. And it might deprioritize posts from new members that don’t get much engagement—ensuring they get even less engagement in a form of algorithmic ghosting.”
Essentially the flaw with facebook’s entire system of selecting posts. When I recently posted on Facebook to my 2000 friends, the only people to react were mother and aunt. I am actually not that much of a loser, but you’d never know from my Facebook page.
FB have made Instagram the same way and I spent days looking at posts my friends made 4 days ago while not seeing their newest posts (this is especially annoying at conventions). I have a hard time believing that Facebook actually pays hundreds of engineers above market salaries to realize this sad customer abuse. It’s a serious waste of the potential of the Internet.
As far of the rest of the article, yes, Facebook has taken over the independent web forum. And yes, their software is inadequate (the usual total lack of features or confusing UI) but their reach is incomparable.
- teleclimber 8y agoThe secondary effect of this is that some people post less to fb. I hate the feeling of seeing a post I made get near-zero engagement, even from close friends, because some algorithm decided it wasn't worthy. The result is I post less, and many of my friends post less, if at all. The result is FB absolutely stinks at keeping me connected to those I care about.
- bcherny 8y agoHow would you adjust the algorithm? Maybe surface new posts with some degree of stochasticity, like what HN does? Sorting by Hot on Reddit feels pretty similar to FB, and sorting strictly chronologically doesn't scale (just sort by New on HN or Reddit - most posts just aren't very interesting to most people).
- code_duck 8y agoIt’s complex and difficult to say since the algorithm is secret. I could list flaws or ways I think it should work differently. I think it’s been tainted by FB’s business models. I will check back when I have more time to write.