mekka okereke Jul 28, 2023

If we pretend that the only options are:

1) Chronological feed
2) Algorithmic feed where a company chooses the algorithm and objective function

And we pretend that "Share of time is a perfect metric for happiness," then this might make sense.

But... time spent isn't a perfect metric for happiness, and there is another option: 3) Algorithmic feed where the user has more control of the algorithm and objective function.

Eg, chronological *is* an algorithmic feed!🙂🙃

https://www.wired.com/story/meta-just-proved-people-hate-chronological-feeds/

Meta Just Proved People Hate Chronological Feeds

Some social media users and lawmakers say chronological feeds are healthier. A new study found that Facebook and Instagram users who were forced to see time-ranked posts turned to TikTok instead.

WIRED
Show threadCraig HepworthJul 28, 2023
@mekkaokereke Agreed. I would like to have a simple, user-controlled algorithm in Mastodon, where I can rank some of the people I follow to always show up at to always show up at the top of my feed, so I never miss their posts. And ranking posts higher than reposts in my feed.
Show threadDoctor MemoryJul 28, 2023
@floridafruitgeek @mekkaokereke one of the reasons I’m continuing to find bluesky interesting despite its obvious problems is that they did something that in retrospect seems obvious: build a plug in API for sorting algorithms. Don’t like any of the default ones? Write (and publish!) your own.
Show threadWoozle Hypertwin

@memory @floridafruitgeek @mekkaokereke

If they support any kind of plugins, that's already a step up from Masto. I was told that Eugen has declined to take interest in making Masto extendable.

Jul 28, 2023 at 10:23pmWeb
Show threadmekka okereke Jul 28, 2023

@woozle @memory @floridafruitgeek

Maybe in the past, but depending on the specific proposal, he's more open to it today, as is the core team. ♥️👍🏿

Show threadWoozle HypertwinJul 28, 2023

@mekkaokereke @memory @floridafruitgeek

That's really good to hear! I hope something comes from it. Lack of extendability was always one of Masto's big limitations.