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>Get rid of newsfeed algorithms that optimize recommendations for engagement. A reasonable proposition, and it would indeed fix the problem of clickbait/outrag
by dexen 6y ago
>Get rid of newsfeed algorithms that optimize recommendations for engagement.
A reasonable proposition, and it would indeed fix the problem of clickbait/outragebait content. Locally.
People who profit from clickbait/outragebait content would migrate to other platforms that do optimize for engagment, and the cycle begins anew. Thus it doesn't fix the problem globally.
A hybrid solution might be possible if all (or most) service providers agreed to certain baseline restrictions on algorithmic optimization for engagement. Probably unrealistic, because there would be all incentives to cheat any such agreement in subtle ways.
While I don't like various problems associated with it, I support the principle of freedom of speech.
- polishdude20 6y agoI think to fix this sort of thing, it all comes down to a person's principles. I think we've failed to teach young people about what is right and wrong and why. You can have the government applying blanket control over things to prevent bad actors and disinformation in society. You can also teach people from a young age what is right and wrong so that when they grow up and are in positions to make these decisions, they won't need blanket decree by the government saying "no you can't do this". The topic may come up in a boardroom and everyone ideally would say "what the fuck? That's not a good idea. Let's not do that because it's wrong even if it makes us money". This is more of a bottom-up approach which can take a few decades to show results. With that argument, I'd be inclined to look back on the last 20-60 years. What have we been teaching/instilling in our population when they were young? I look at the stuff that's happening as a symptom of a long history where we dropped the ball repeatedly.