An algorithm implies an objective rules based system as opposed to one that changes to the whims of its operators. With a whimsical system an advertiser can com

An algorithm implies an objective rules based system as opposed to one that changes to the whims of its operators. With a whimsical system an advertiser can come in and ask an operator to rank it up in the organic section where Google claims the rankings are based on page rank. You’re tied to the meaning of algorithm from a developer perspective where you can make things do whatever you want. In the Journal’s non-developer community an Algorithm is different to Do-What-You-Want, it’s a set of high level rules that are small enough to explain.