What’s being done about social media algorithms?

July 5, 2022 11:24 AM

Frances Haugen exposed how FaceBook’s engagement algorithms have had horrible outcomes for humanity, ranging from worsening teen girls’ self-esteem to throwing elections. The same happens with YouTube and probably Google. Have there been any serious attempts to legislate or otherwise constrain these algorithms? Is there anything a private citizen can do?
posted by cotton dress sock to Technology (4 answers total)

I'm interested to see what other people suggest, but I'd say one place to start is writing to your representatives. I know some members of Congress are interested in regulating tech, so it couldn't hurt letting your reps know this issue matters to you.
posted by coffeecat at 12:20 PM on July 5, 2022

The Berkman center at Harvard has a lot of academic review of the issues. The public talks I've gone to were clear and comphrehensive discussions of the specific issue, a good mix of idealism and rational pragmatism.

I guess I'm suggesting learning, there are no simple answers. Stopping "math" is not happening, the internet is not going away.
posted by sammyo at 12:32 PM on July 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Man… if I’d only googled Haugen in the news, I’d have found her outlining efforts so far.

https://ktla.com/morning-news/frances-haugen-talks-dangers-of-social-media/
posted by cotton dress sock at 1:12 PM on July 5, 2022

There's a few new social media sites that are getting put together as worker-owned co-ops/non profits. It's really early days for most of them but I'm excited about the potential. Like Co-host, which is supposed to be more or less Twitter but without any any algorithms. (I guess what I'm hoping is everyone just abandons the old places for better ones)
posted by velebita at 2:36 PM on July 5, 2022