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> "Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don't get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away," the billionair
by xg15 3y ago
> "Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don't get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away," the billionaire said.
... at that point he might as well say "maximize" instead of "optimize"
- browningstreet 3y agoHe’s wrecking the utility of X. Without that, engagement has less purpose and reward.
- snailmailman 3y agoI don’t understand this move at all. “There is less time spent if people click away” So now people are forced to click every link if they want to see what it’s about? Can’t stay on Twitter and get the headline and lead-in? I would think these link previews let people stay on twitter but what do I know. I’ve stopped using it a long time ago. The mastodon app I use has link previews so this won’t affect me much.
- slowmovintarget 3y agoHave they de-discovered a/b testing? Presumably it would have told them whether users stay or go because they have to click the link to find out what it is.
- anonymousab 3y agoMusk's argument is that not showing any of the content other than the image will force people to instead put the article text content in the Twitter post itself, next to the image. By showing almost no context for a link, it will force posters to manually include more context, and thus people will stay on Twitter longer than when they were generating a bit of context for the embeds (e.g. article title).
- dragonwriter 3y ago> By showing almost no context for a link, it will force posters to manually include more context, and thus people ... will feel compelled to pay for Twitter, since to post significant text in a tweet you need to pay. That's the real goal, to push people to paud accounts, not to make Twitter stickier.