It's pretty clear now that a suggestion algorithm that prioritizes engagement at all costs has toxic side effects. This does not prove that all promotion algor

It's pretty clear now that a suggestion algorithm that prioritizes engagement at all costs has toxic side effects. This does not prove that all promotion algorithms, much less all social media, is inherently toxic. Mastodon is a social media platform that's not built on a content promotion algorithm. Mastodon has a lot of group think, and you can absolutely build yourself an echo chamber full of political virtue signalling if that's what you're into. But I wouldn't characterize this as "toxic," it just reflects what you put into it. There's no algorithm to pump it into your face if you don't want it. I'd love to see a version of Mastodon, or some social media platform, that manages to promote sensible discussion algorithmically. I don't know how this would work, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that this proves that it's impossible.