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How is this different from the outrage factories of the tabloid news? Is YouTube’s approach to extremist content different from a tabloid in any way other than
by theptip 6y ago
How is this different from the outrage factories of the tabloid news?
Is YouTube’s approach to extremist content different from a tabloid in any way other than efficiency/reach?
Are we really complaining about a basic aspect of human psychology rather than a business innovation from these companies?
If we smash YouTube, what about the tabloid press? How do we actually regulate this stuff in a consistent way? (And how do we do it inside the confines of the first amendment?)
- cwhiz 6y agoI won't accidentally end up on some outrage tabloid news site if I start at AP News and start clicking articles. There is nothing wrong with outrage tabloid news existing, but it shouldn't be something that I accidentally happen upon while browsing normal news. YouTube will just send you to extremist crap if you keep watching suggested videos long enough.
- theptip 6y agoFair. Is this qualitatively or just quantitatively different from discovery in previous generations; flicking through the channels you see Fox when you normally choose MSNBC. Or flicking through the newspapers on the rack you see USA Today on your way to picking up NYTimes. I think part of it at least is that you simply get recommended way more things now than then; the shocking recommendations are the only ones we remember. I do also agree that there is some sort of feedback loop going on here that wasn’t happening as strongly before, and I have a vague hunch that bots / astroturfers may be amplifying these feedback loops in ways that didn’t apply to previous generations.