algorithmic choice & control
In the 1970s and 1980s, the philosopher of technology Langdon Winner dismantled the idea that technology is a “neutral” tool (Winner, 1978). Winner’s work emphasized how those developing technology benefit the most while already disadvantaged individuals and groups pay the highest price, laying the philosophical foundation for subsequent work in... See more
Algorithmic feeds: good or bad?
Many people claim they just want a chronological feed, but studies consistently show the vast majority of people prefer algorithmic recommendations, because they surface more of what users actually want, compared to chronological feeds.
That said, it’s not as simple as “algorithms good.” There’s evidence that... See more
Many people claim they just want a chronological feed, but studies consistently show the vast majority of people prefer algorithmic recommendations, because they surface more of what users actually want, compared to chronological feeds.
That said, it’s not as simple as “algorithms good.” There’s evidence that... See more
Yes, Section 230 Should Apply Equally To Algorithmic Recommendations
“The algorithm, more than the content type or the app’s appearance, is the core of social media because it directs how you spend your attention there,” she wrote in 2023, describing Bluesky’s goal as replacing the “master algorithm” controlled by a single company with an open “marketplace of algorithms.” The language is consistently about... See more
Article
The findings suggest that people can improve their online discussions by using this type of language in their posts. It also suggests social media platforms should optimize algorithms to surface these posts more often...Center for Media Engagement research offers a solution to this problem—encouraging the use of “connective language” online.3 Connective language expresses an openness to other perspectives and a humble approach to presenting one’s viewpoints.4 Examples of connective language include phrases such as “correct me if I’m wrong” or “this is just my opinion.”
What would you tell your algorithm (if it listened)?
Tech and Social Cohesiontechandsocialcohesion.substack.com
Top feeds heavily skew towards English content, although there were five Japanese,
four Portuguese, and a single feed each for Indonesian, Ukrainian, and Spanish. The
relative prominence of Japanese and Portuguese reflects the geographic distribution of
the platform’s users (Duarte, 2025). In terms of topic, identity-focused feeds were most
prominent,... See more
four Portuguese, and a single feed each for Indonesian, Ukrainian, and Spanish. The
relative prominence of Japanese and Portuguese reflects the geographic distribution of
the platform’s users (Duarte, 2025). In terms of topic, identity-focused feeds were most
prominent,... See more