this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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Technology

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Meta Just Proved People Hate Chronological Feeds (www.wired.com)
submitted 1 year ago by trashhalo@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org
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Meta conducted an experiment where thousands of users were shown chronological feeds on Facebook and Instagram for three months. Users of the chronological feeds engaged less with the platforms and were more likely to use competitors like YouTube and TikTok. This suggests that users prefer algorithmically ranked feeds that show them more relevant content, even though some argue chronological feeds provide more transparency. While the experiment found that chronological feeds exposed users to more political and untrustworthy content, it did not significantly impact their political views or behaviors. The researchers note that a permanent switch to chronological feeds could produce different results, but this study provides only a glimpse into the issue.

I think this is bullshit. I exclusively scroll Lemmy in new mode. I scroll I see a post I already have seen. Then I leave. That doesn't mean I hate it, I'm just done!

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[–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 year ago

So basically the algorithm feeds an unhealthy addiction. And in no moment the study even tries to contradict the main concerns against algorithm-based sorting: lack of transparency, unhealthiness, bubbling, and feeding into dichotomies like "you like apples, so YOU'RE A BANANA HATER!".

Better approaches put power on the hands of the users. For example, tagging content, or sorting it into communities. Perhaps not surprisingly it's how Mastodon and Lemmy do it, respectively.

There's also the matter of quality, not just personal preferences; this sort of thing does require an algorithm, but there's nothing preventing it from being simple, customisable, and open, so users know exactly why they're being shown something instead of something else.