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There's a related question of "what's the purpose of the ranking algorithm?" Is it to ensure that the #1 article is strictly "better" (via whatever function) t
by sokoloff 4y ago
There's a related question of "what's the purpose of the ranking algorithm?"
Is it to ensure that the #1 article is strictly "better" (via whatever function) than the #2 and the #2 better than the #3?
Or is it to ensure that at least N of the top 30 (page 1) submissions will tend to be interesting to many users on the site (driving engagement and discussion)?
As a user, I'm a lot more interested in the second goal than I am the first goal. This change seems to serve the first goal much more than it serves the second goal. The reinforcement loop of "on the front page => gets more votes" is a property that supports the second goal more than it supports the first. Looking at the top 30 on social-protocols (this algorithm) vs the front page on HN, I saw 1 additional story on HN that would motivate me to click through (5 vs 4), so not a massive difference.
- jwarden 4y agoI would say the ranking algorithm has many purposes. Driving quality engagement and discussion, as you suggest, is probably the most important. But I think simply being “interesting enough” to many users is not the goal. I think the goal is to make the front page as interesting as possible. That’s why HN has already out so much effort into ranking algorithms and moderation and why we think it is still worth improving if possible. We actually haven’t implemented a new algorithm (for reasons discussed in the readme). What you see when you click on our site is the exact same rankings, but with the upvoteRate next to each in addition to the score, which you can click on to see charts with a history of the story’s rank and upvoteRate.