This is interesting, but let's not have a takeaway that the problem is isolated to bad actors purchasing social networking sites. Even on supposedly neutral

This is interesting, but let's not have a takeaway that the problem is isolated to bad actors purchasing social networking sites. Even on supposedly neutral platforms like YouTube or Facebook you'll see bad actors successfully manipulate the algorithmic process to help shape opinion. I find it interesting to reflect on the fact that -- despite being raised on a diet of science fiction scenarios about dystopias -- my generation built these machines. In hindsight, it's blindingly obvious that algorithms would be manipulated by the wealthy and powerful to service their agendas. Of _course_ they would, every incentive was plainly there from the start. But we figured it wouldn't be a problem because it was us who built them, and we weren't the baddies. I say this not to point the finger at other people. I worked on a major social media system -- and I was one of those who defended the system as it was being created. And we all should have known better.