Re:Facebook Morale Takes a Tumble Along with Stock Price
by illumin8 on Wednesday November 14, 2018 @08:31PM
(#18456127)
Absolutely this is the case. They trained the feed algorithm with years of A/B testing data and told it to optimize for engagement above all else. Well, guess what, this is exactly the same way YouTube trained their "Up next" algorithm and that's why you are 2-3 degrees of separation between cute cat videos and right-wing nazi/fascist propaganda.
When you optimize for user engagement above all else, this is what happens.
Re:Facebook Morale Takes a Tumble Along with Stock Price
by theclaw on Wednesday November 14, 2018 @08:54PM
(#18456229)
The algorithm found out that people are most engaged when they’re arguing with one another about provocative nonsense, and worked to create as much of it as possible.
When you optimize for user engagement above all else, this is what happens.