• themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    The Facebook feed is an advanced algorithm that knows a shit ton about what to feed you to keep you engaged. It’s not just the cookies from sites you visit. They track what thumbnails get you to stop scrolling. They track the way a human eye moves and how far your thumb glides across the screen.

    Point is, if it’s all scantily clad thirst traps, thats what gets your attention. If you see one, and you stop to take a screenshot for an article you’re writing about how it’s all thirst traps, then every third item will be another thirst trap.

    Facebook doesn’t care if you want to see that content. Their goal is to keep your eyes on Facebook. If it makes you mad enough to comment, that’s engagement.

    I didn’t read the whole article, so maybe the author addresses this, but what you see on Facebook is a funhouse reflection of your own interests.

    • Trixxstrr@piefed.ca
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      2 months ago

      Exactly, if I look at my facebook feed, besides posts from people and groups I actually follow, the “suggested” posts are all stuff that matches my interests. gaming, music, movies.

    • murvel@feddit.nu
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      2 months ago

      If that’s your take and thats their goal: he doesn’t seem very engaged with the content does he?

      So clearly in that case it’s a failure.

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        On the contrary, I’d say it’s a smashing success. First, the author was deeply engaged with Facebook to write the article. Second, everyone who saw this article and discussed the findings was engaged with Facebook even if they didn’t have the app open. You and I are engaged with Facebook right now. And third, many many more people logged into their Facebook to test the findings either out of curiosity, to disprove the theory, or because they are horny goblins thirsting for smut.