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

submitted 21 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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[–] Rob200@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 20 hours ago (8 children)

I don't think the problem is strictly the existence algorithms, but rather how they are used against the users.

To some extent, on Lemmy users are free to sort posts how they wish. Such as by new, or hot.. etc. Should these types of algorithm-like features be banned too?

While pretty much Youtube and Facebook just decide for you what gets pitched to you.

[–] Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 0 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Like I said below I think the distinction is that a) I have access to a algorithm free feed here and b) lemmy (as far as I understand it) simply sorts content, rather than outright removing content from my feed if it thinks it will make me spend less time on it. I could be wrong about that second point though.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Algorithm isn't just whether or not it shows you the content. It is the sorting. Well plus the show it or not.

[–] Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

Through the discussion I’ve had here I can see that I should have been more specific and defined what kind of algorithm is the problem. But that was the point of making the post in the first place, to understand why the narrative is not moving in that direction and now I can see why, it’s nuanced discussion. But I think it’s well worth it to steer it in that direction.

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