Do Digg's power users still dominate?

April 3, 2009 2:06 PM

since Digg changed its algorithm last year, how much influence do the top Diggers have? is it still an oligarchy? I remember reading a lot about how top diggers could easily get their submitted articles to the front page, while the average user could rarely do so. Then in January 08 Digg changed the algorithm to increase the diversity necessary to promote an article to the front page...did this solve most of the problems? Is there still some controversy about it? Are people still abusing digg, and how?
posted by alohaliz to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)

did this solve most of the problems?

No

Is there still some controversy about it?

Yes

Are people still abusing digg

Yes

how?

Technology, favoritism, etc.

Bottom line is that as long as there is money to be made by being a top submitter, you'll have powerusers like Mr. Babyman, etc. doing their all to game the system. And as long as said powerusers keep posting material that draws high volumes of page views to Digg, Rose will go easy on them to keep the adsense $$ flowing.
posted by Smarson at 4:05 PM on April 3, 2009

I still notice a handful of people who always seem to get their stuff on the front page. But it's hardly required. I've gotten five stories on the front page (and one or two that almost made it) in the little over two years I've been using the site, and I don't have any Digg friends or use the "Shout" system at all. It's just a matter of finding good content and having a little luck.

I think the biggest issue now is one user finding some breaking news and submitting it, then having a power user submitting the same content under a slightly different URL and making the front page more quickly.
posted by Rhaomi at 5:42 PM on April 3, 2009