It’s nothing that we probably all didn’t know already, but researchers from the University of Amsterdam suggest that, “core dysfunctions may be rooted in the feedback between reactive engagement and network growth, raising the possibility that meaningful reform will require rethinking the foundational dynamics of platform architecture.”
We need to outlaw individually targeted algorithmic content feeds. A feed is still fine as long as it’s entirely content from channels you subscribe to. If YouTube only showed you videos from channels you subscribe to, it would be a much less toxic platform. And new channels could still spread via search, peer-to-peer recommendations, etc. This also wouldn’t be censorship. You can publish whatever you want on your own site or whatever a platform allows you to publish on theirs. But it’s the individually targeted, psychologically optimized content feeds that are killing us. Feeds optimized for engagement and rage. Feeds optimized to be as addictive as possible. Facebook was fine when it was just posts from your actual friends. But like other social media, it’s degenerated into a rage box.
I really think this is what we need to do. Social networks were a great idea; social media wasn’t. The tiktok feed and the YouTube algorithm need to be left in the ash heap of history. They’re just too addictive to be used responsibly. We should regulate social media companies like we do purveyors of alcohol and other addictive products. And that could start by banning individually targeted algorithmic feeds. “Going viral” is not something that should happen automatically. The only way to go viral should be if actual real human beings repeatedly recommend your content to other actual human beings.
Did you read the article?