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Why are we not banning algorithms? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 23 hours ago by Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.ml

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Since Meta announced they would stop moderating posts much of the mainstream discussion surrounding social media has been centered on whether a platform has a responsibility or not for the content being posted on their service. Which I think is a fair discussion though I favor the side of less moderation in almost every instance.

But as I think about it the problem is not moderation at all: we had very little moderation in the early days of the internet and social media and yet people didn’t believe the nonsense they saw online, unlike nowadays were even official news platforms have reported on outright bullshit being made up on social media. To me the problem is the godamn algorithm that pushes people into bubbles that reinforce their correct or incorrect views; and I think anyone with two brain cells and an iota of understanding of how engagement algorithms works can see this. So why is the discussion about moderation and not about banning algorithms?

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[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 6 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

How would you identify the kinds of algorithms that should be banned, as opposed to all the other kinds of algorithms? I have a feeling that would be tricky.

[–] Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 1 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

The easy answer for me would be to ban algorithms that have the specific intent of maximizing user time spent on the app. I know that’s very hard to define legally. Maybe like I suggested below we can ban what kinds of signals algorithms can use to suggest and push content?

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 5 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

To do it based on intent would create some difficult grey areas - for example, video game creators would have to try to make their games as compelling as possible without passing a more or less vague threshold and breaking the law. The second approach of working on the ways different types of data can be used sounds more promising.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 0 points 22 hours ago

Exactly. Even Meta and their thousands of lawyers would immediately say this. How does it harm people? Prove it does. Why are they singled out? They're just showing content they think is relevant, and I'm guessing they honestly are. It's that political groups take advantage of that, and make slop that enrages and inflames. But Meta would just say "you can't punish us for trying to make our platform successful". A mess all around

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

ban algorithms that have the specific intent of maximizing user time spent on the app.

That just means make the app shitty. You can optimize for engagement without just trying to make users angry. Making users angry at each other is just an extremely effective way to boost engagement.

[–] Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 1 points 23 hours ago

I dunno, old forums were fun as fuck and they had no algorithm beyond sorting by most popular, new etc. Hey if it makes people spend less time looking at their phone it is still a win in my book— I type as I spend hours on my tablet. I’m a hypocrite, won’t lie.