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by mavhc 1722 days ago
Their algorithm to maximize engagement automatically promotes what's popular. What's popular is a side effect of society and how human brains work.

Every supermarket magazine is doing the same thing, just they're not as good at it.
1 comments
nowherebeen 1722 days ago
> Their algorithm to maximize engagement automatically promotes what's popular.

No, their algorithm is maximizing conflict. There's no algorithm needed for what's popular. A 5 year old can write that algorithm. Go read up on research on what drives engagement on social media. Popular != maximum engagement.

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mavhc 1722 days ago
Conflict is popular, there's more comments when people disagree. It's a very unintelligent way to measure popularity, number of comments, number of views.

That's why the rest of the Facebook posts you see are "what was your favourite meal as a child?" etc with thousands of comments. The ones people think are phishing scams.

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