Opt in should be the baseline standard for all tech platforms.

Chrome plugin illustrative of how much algo dominates FB in 2025.

Fuck yeah indeed

Feed algorithms should be open source with plenty of options for users to choose from

This strikes as wholly unsustainable. Might as well dictate pagination to newspapers and mags. If people want a PBS option for social media, just use taxes and fund the creation of one.

Wholly unsustainable how? What are you talking about?

Those companies are essentially marketing channels. They don't have a real service line beyond that, at least not that they are remunerated for. If consumers don't pay to access the channel's features, then they pay by watching ads. No ads, no service. Unless consumers pay for services.

Complaining about ads on free service is complaining that newspapers run used car ads in the sports section. Just spin up a public broadcasting version of social media.

Okay so regulate them under marketing laws. All statements must be true.

Those laws apply to all marketing irrespective of channel medium. Doesn't stop them from having a shitty ad/content split. TV had it, thus VCR or PBS. The biggest issue is lack of competition/consolidation/collusion. Social media companies should stand alone and apart from each other.

They probably should also not be allowed to own/operate markets, etc.

Where in the article does the author say or remotely imply that ads should be banned on online platforms? Just...what on earth are you jibbering about?

Making algorithmic timeline opt in (after consumer opted into the service), and dictating content/ads ratio = soft ban on using the channel as a marketing channel. Zero difference than forcing newspaper/mags to remove ads or ratio them before they deliver to door.

If that's done, just flat out expect to pay for the service, because that will be what they turn to.

I'm just going to suggest you actually try reading the article. It's not long. Reading isn't difficult. Otherwise I don't know where to even start with you.

Read it long before posting. Parts are agreeable, the algo stuff is straight silly. Know those industries business far better than most, how they will react, how they will evade, and how consumers won't want to pay for anything.

You're yelling about things that aren't in the article.

Read literal text of what he wrote, and then understand the business involved. The "posts displayed, not followed" is called marketing. 90% is reference to ratio-ing that commands 90% of what they are freely served to be their choice, and 10% the channel's choice (the salable marketing segment).

Just ban algorithmic engagement entirely.

How will Product Managers justify their existence if they can’t force traffic to their features via the algo?

I'd go one further. Algorithmic timelines are basically editorial decisions about what posts to show. Platforms should be responsible for what they choose to publish just like a newspaper is for the material it chooses. If Facebook pushes out a libelous post, then it should be responsible for it.

Ohhhh I wonder if anyone has ever tried to sue them on that basis?

MEME: *confused face* "You guys use algorithmic timelines???"

The Bill of Digital Rights is a document to enshrine protections for the digital persona in the use and advancement of technology in our global culture and society. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

We're past the 40-year anniversary when Ken Thompson implied that he'd written a back-door into every UNIX compiler, because closed-source code could have almost anything inside it. www.cs.cmu.edu/~rdriley/487...

I really want Apple / maybe the EU to create a control standard for apps with infinite scrolling, letting it be set in iOS or something. Ending doomscrolling would make all the difference in the world.