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The algo will only push outrage on you if you secretly like it enough to spend hours watching that shit. I have consumed more than my fair share of content on
by FredPret 2y ago
The algo will only push outrage on you if you secretly like it enough to spend hours watching that shit.
I have consumed more than my fair share of content on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook videos, and TikTok. My timeline is all engineering, spaceships, jumping puppies, and comedians (and not the negative kind).
It's an algorithm, it wants you to watch more and click on all the ads. It doesn't care if the world burns, but it also isn't going to push you that way.
My statement will only be "objectively false" if the algorithm is somehow programmed for political extremism. In reality, each of us is in the driver's seat.
People have been spouting crap since time immemorial - doesn't mean you have to watch it.
I would suggest a heavy and sustained dose of puppy videos.
- Alupis 2y agoHow do you use these short video services? Are you searching for content then watching, or just "doom scrolling" while on the toilet? Searching then watching is effectively realigning the feed to your latest and most engaged preferences. Doom scrolling will get worse and worse as time goes on - it appears entirely unavoidable. They pick up on "positive" interaction signals such as slowing down while scrolling past a video, scrolling back to a video, letting it play more than once, even downvoting can be a sign of engagement and a catalyst for more of the same... You are right - the algorithm doesn't care if the world burns... it just wants to maximize engagement. That, for most of the human population, means stuff that gets immediate reactions. Unfortunately that often means outrageous material.