In the book 'Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture' by Kyle Chayka, the author examines how social media algorithms dictate what content we consume and argues that they make us passive consumers. Chayka conducted an 'algorithm cleanse' where he disconnected from social media platforms for a few months to examine the impact of Big Tech on our interests and experiences. He suggests that increased regulation of social media companies could mitigate the impact of algorithms. Chayka also discusses how algorithms pressure artists to shape their work to fit the feeds and how success on social media platforms determines opportunities for book deals, TV shows, and record deals. He points out that algorithmic feeds have taken on the responsibility of news publications, choosing which stories are important and shaping narratives. Chayka expresses concern about the passivity of consumption encouraged by algorithms, which discourages deep thinking about the culture we consume. [41e87b21]
The book 'Filterworld' delves into the ways in which technology and algorithms have narrowed choices and dulled culture. Chayka argues for the restoration of value to curation and the act of taste, suggesting that we choose more conscionable platforms and resist the average and transient impulses of social media. The book also explores generational divides in relation to technology and nostalgia, shedding light on the complex interplay between algorithms and culture. [e77cff94]
The backlash against automated curation is growing as people become more aware of the potential downsides of algorithms. New algorithm-free platforms like PI.FYI and Spread are emerging to provide alternatives to automated recommendations. PI.FYI, founded by Tyler Bainbridge, allows users to receive recommendations only from other humans, not machines. Spread, created by Stuart Rogers, focuses on real human recommendations rather than algorithmic engagement. While some believe that going back to chronological feeds is the solution, others argue that more algorithms are needed to reduce information overload. The Prosocial Ranking Challenge aims to develop feed-ranking algorithms that prioritize socially desirable outcomes. Group messaging is also becoming popular as a supplement to algorithmic social media feeds. However, group chats can still produce echo chambers and biases. The fight for a perfect information feed continues. [b373cb9b]
The internet has made cultural arbitrage, the acquisition of information, goods, or styles in one location where they are common and dispersing them in places where they are rare, nearly undetectable. The speed of modern communication reduces the value of knowledge and makes it difficult for individuals to construct entire identities based on it. While there are advantages to information equality, such as expanding global access to education and health, there are also subtle losses that come with instant access to knowledge. In the past, cultural arbitrage led to the diffusion of information from the underground into the mainstream, creating new styles and forms. However, the internet has reduced the glory of acquiring deep information and constrained arbitrage due to hyper-politicization and concerns of appropriation. The decrease in cultural arbitrage has contributed to a potential slowdown in cultural innovation. Countervailing trends, such as the move to balkanized networks and reducing the amount of information shared online, may reenergize cultural arbitrage over time. [ea967629]