To worry how far algorithms push people to extremes?

[estrogone]

I am surprised that a fair few people I have spoken to (friends and family)don’t seem to realise how social media algorithms work. The more you click on a theme, idea or concept, the more it’s served back to you — until it starts to look like ‘truth’.

AIBU to feel worried at how much this fuels extreme views to take hold (e.g. nationalism, conspiracy theories), and that these algorithmic echo chambers are really shit and should be properly regulated.

I'm plagued by surfing videos. How do I change the algorithm? Some conspiracy theories would be a welcome change

I'd like to say you're wrong because surely anyone who ever searched for anything on social media must realise they then get inundated with that content? As an example I looked for a specific cleaning tip recently and quickly got inundated with with cleaning would-be-influencers and I very quickly got bored of it so changed my preferences. However, I gentleman I worked with a few years ago who seemed intelligent and professional seems to have got very caught up in the QAnon movement and regularly receives bans from social media; this has really surprised me. So perhaps you are right, and some people are less discerning than I thought.

@Ablondiebutagoody on instagram for example, whilst the video is playing click on the 3 dots which are in a vertical line on the bottom right of the screen. Then there is a pop up, click on "not interested", then you can select a reason such as "This topic doesn't interest me".

I'm getting adverts for Crocs - someone please help! 😩

I’ll swap you! I love a surfing video!

It's a bloody nightmare. Retargetting is one thing (ads served based on previous searches). It's the folk who seem to be falling hook Line and sinker for the vile crap online. They click once, then it becomes a steady stream until its fact. I am in the tech sector (not social media or algorithms related) and even some supposedly very cerebral fall for this. It's insidious - I am surprised more isn't being done to rein it in. It's one thing to be be plagued by wotsits eating parrot videos but the rise in of Reform and similar is massively influenced by this. It all seems to fly under the radar.

Why can't we get an algorithm about beating the algorithms... My feed should be flooded with this 😂

I don't know anyone who isn't well aware of how algorithms work.

Facebook has decided I like seeing photos of disused railway platforms this week.

Yes, there are people who like photographing disused railway platforms are sharing the photos with over enthusiasts.

I presume is linked to my research into the history of a particular stream engine last week. (52044 in case people are randomly interested)

They can definitely give people an impression that everyone is talking about Gaza or that everyone is concerned about migrant hotels. I've definitely seen comments like 'my twitter feed is full of x concern'.

Not just the algorithm guilty there, but people curating their content using blocklists etc. It is very insidious and people might theoretically know about algorithms but not actually consider how much it influences their view of what the world looks like.

Which is why MN is good because you will be presented with opinions and discussions that are outside of what you might see elsewhere.

My experience is the opposite. People generally understand that the machines track us (cookies etc). Many people I know (friends and family don't understand the true extent of how deep it goes.

Its probably an urban myth but apparently even Facebook engineers sometimes admit they don’t fully understand all the outcomes of their own algorithm tweaks. They reckon it's like teaching a robot to juggle chainsaws and then being surprised when it redecorates your living room.
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Must just be me 😂 😂 😂 😂

i understand your point, but society as a whole still was influenced way before social media, so even if regulated history has shown people will still get influenced either way