Saying that Facebook controls what’s in the newsfeed is really no more correct than saying Google controls what’s in search results.
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Yep. There a large number of potential equilibra that “what people want” can converge on—depending on choice architecture and conditions.
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No. There are short term and long term feedback cycles. They can control the short term ones. But the long term ones lead to Snap
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Replying to @benedictevans @zeynep and
Essentially you’re arguing FB could make whatever product it wants, sprinkle sugar and get use. This is partly true but only in short term
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Replying to @benedictevans @zeynep and
In fact, the whole history of FB is radical product changes as it tries to follow users. It has almost never been able to lead them.
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Replying to @benedictevans @zeynep and
The only place FB has, rightly, thought it knew user wants better than users was in sharing. Everywhere else it follows. Just like google.
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Replying to @benedictevans @zeynep and
Did you read my post? I’d be interested in your thoughts on it.
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I have! Was partially responding to it.—Hard in this UI. I think of "what people want" as sinkholes or strange attractors. They're a force.
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Replying to @zeynep @benedictevans and
But they don't exist as singular equilibrium points. There is more than one place they could go—and where that goes depends a lot on paths.
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So Facebook is responding, no doubt. My arg is that both its structure and metrics are stuck in a narrow place, hiding the possible space.
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Replying to @zeynep @benedictevans and
Doesn't Facebook rely on the rubbernecking fallacy: since people turn and look at car crashes, show them more car crashes? (i.e. a sinkhole)
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