They Screwed up my Feed

I've been working with social media professionally for over 15 years. It's not all fun and games, memes, or cat videos. It's been hard work, sometimes tough, often interesting, always connected with people and the precise yet cold calculations of algorithms. I've seen platforms change society, not always for the better. Lately, I've realized my feed is completely screwed up for good.

You Are What You Click!

It all began innocently in 2009 when I joined a global shoe brand. Back then, social media wasn't taken seriously by most senior managers. Between 2010 and 2014, my team and I grew the company's Facebook following from zero to over a million - mostly organically. Social media became a big part of my career path into marketing, digitalization, and innovation. One thing I noticed is that it used to be more human-centered.

we're stuck in digital echo chambers shaped by algorithms

Fast forward to today, and we're stuck in digital echo chambers shaped by algorithms rather than friends' choices. "You are what you eat" - that's the saying. In the era of social media, "You are what you click" is the algorithm's motto, and personally, it doesn't sit well with me. My diverse professional experiences, from shoes to innovation management, to CCTV cameras, to tiny houses and recruiting software, mixed with a diverse set of personal hobbies, may explain the confusion in my feed. However, the personalization features not only miss the mark but actively work against my efforts to curate a feed reflecting my interests. I think I got lost in the endless content stream predetermined by algorithms.

Shoe Ads and Classic Click-bait

As a professional marketer, I'm not against the technology. I get the economics: engagement drives ads, and personalization is powerful. I've curated, clicked not interested, and unfollowed pages, people, and interests. Yet, my feed is still a mix of industry whitepapers, shoe ads, board games, and classic click-bait. Today, I work with recruiting, and I guess I receive about every job ad available in town. There's a gap between the promise of tailored content and the reality I face. Digital literacy is crucial now. Knowing what you consume, distinguishing truth from falsehood, is essential. I see acquaintances who drift astray into questionable or extreme political views on either side of the spectrum. But with limited tools, it's tough - Now, incorporate the rapid pace of innovation observed in the field of generative AI. Maybe it's time for a change where users have control over their feed, not just platforms. Imagine if we could adjust algorithms, set filters to see what we want. It's a radical idea for platforms focused on passive consumption and data mining. But it could be a lifeline for those wanting a rich online experience.

Escaping the Echo Chamber?

It's not all bad news. People are growing tired of echo chambers. People, younger than myself, have already turned their backs on platforms like Facebook. They are turning to newsletters and direct subscriptions to publishers. The future might bring back more reader-friendly paradigms, giving users control over their feeds.

Until then, I hope for a feed that truly represents me - reflecting an open mind, not just what algorithms think I like, based on my gender, weird hobbies, and my diverse professional background. Since I professionally work with social media and still enjoy most parts of it, I am not able to escape the echo chamber. I just hope for a more genuine and unique user experience.

Is your feed screwed up as well? Let me know in the comments.