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> "Twitter algorithm should be open source" I can see the idealism behind this question, but imagine just how hard this could backfire in practice. People disc
by ckastner 5y ago
> "Twitter algorithm should be open source"
I can see the idealism behind this question, but imagine just how hard this could backfire in practice. People discovering to what extent algorithmic ranking manipulates them, and feeds the outrage machine.
And that's what glues eyeballs and generates revenue, so changing the algorithm would work against revenue.
- rubyist5eva 5y agoWe shouldn’t be transparent because it would make people mad
- ckastner 5y agoJust to be clear, I'd love for this to happen. I absolutely despise the outrage machine that Twitter has come to be. I'm saying it's interesting for Elon, as a major shareholder, to argue in favor of this.
- colinmhayes 5y agoWe shouldn't be transparent because there would be insane SEO if we were. Social media needs to be a black box or the only thing you'd see if propaganda and ads.
- rubyist5eva 5y agoWe already only see mostly propaganda and ads though.
- nsonha 5y agothis is a pretty dumb idea. Suppose it happens, that'll simply give power to the programmer community to shove their algorithm, whatever they come up with, down everyone's throat. The key issue isn't that the algorithm is close source but it's a single algorithm. People should be able to customize the algorithm (aka make their own algorithm). As long as that is possible and the options are clear, no one cares if it's open source or not.
- _-david-_ 5y agoThey could open source older versions. It would still allow people to see close to what the algorithm is without seeing what is currently in production.
- jp42 5y agoprecisely thats the point. if its open source then people can dig these things and twitter can't manipulate the crow at scale.
- tayo42 5y agoit doesn't even make sense, there is no "algorithm". ill quote will ferrell "No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative… it’s gets the people going!"