A Q&A with Eugene Wei: The Timeline is Evolving

Algorithm-friendly design need not be user-hostile. It simply takes a different approach as to how to best serve the user’s interests. Pagination may insert some level of friction to the user, but in doing so, it may provide the algorithm with cleaner signal that safeguards the quality of the feed in the long run.

The usual cycle with social media sites is that they start out being very flexible and open, and are happy to have users even if those users are sharing content that sends other users off-site. But, over time, they try to get more content hosted on their own systems, and to promote it more relative to the competition. Google, while not a social pla... See more

Now, the question is whether Instagram should replace their default view with a “full screen video experience” that would basically complete their transition into a wholesale TikTok clone.

Because, then the question becomes, now that we have some candidate Flits, how do we insert those Flits amongst the chronological Flits that birds are already receiving? Should your feed be entirely chronological? 50% chronological and 50% algorithmic? Mostly algorithmic? What if you have more than one algorithm, one that shows you the most relevan... See more