[lcnPylGDnU4H9OF]

I read this as a problem with how the term "algorithm" is used by / when communicating to the layperson (basically, the general problem of "buzzwords"). It's just being simplified; possibly overmuch but that's not relevant to the layperson's complaints. I think it's fair to say that the layperson understands that they don't want an algorithm which manipulates them to spend more time "engaged" than they otherwise would.

I do think there is value to algorithms which incidentally increase engagement as argued by the article (e.g. capturing and isolating email spam), but there is understandable push-back against an algorithm that is, additionally or not, being optimized for pupils pointed at screen.