#66: The algorithms and incentives that drive online content

💎 Word gems

Magic Numbers (Real Life Mag / Alana Mohamed)

This is a great article on algorithms, specifically, how they’re positioned as a magical  in a way that hides the reality of bias and labor exploitations behind them.

Given algorithms’ power and obscurity, it seems almost inevitable that they would be regarded as capricious gods. They are something we can’t touch or see directly but affect our everyday lives, bringing rewarding attention to some and swarming punishments to others. The fantasy of “revealing the algorithm” — as Elon Musk spuriously promised in the wake of his proposed Twitter purchase — reinforces the idea of hidden, higher knowledge, as if code might reveal the secrets of humanity. The Algorithm can thereby seem almost benevolent rather than opportunistic and exploitative.

Baby Pics, Life Lessons, and Obits: What Happened to LinkedIn? (The Walrus / Josh Greenblatt)

Content on LinkedIn has always been a bizarre assortment of thought leadership, but this article looks at the trend toward more personal content. Our need to post everything online, and the general usefulness of LinkedIn as a self promotion tool are supported by LinkedIn’s monetization incentives.

The commercial imperative to monetize user-generated content is an obvious strategy for social media platforms. But, when the platform is a professional networking site for job seekers, the implications feel sinister. LinkedIn promises that creator mode can amplify your visibility to other LinkedIn members and organically grow your network, an appealing proposition for entrepreneurs and small-business owners. In certain fields—media, fashion, or the arts, for example—cultivating an online following is a necessary evil; brands, agencies, and publishing companies want to tap into a broad and engaged audience that values creators’ personal perspectives or recommendations. Being a TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram influencer can be a full-time gig. These followings are built on a demand for a personal voice, where authenticity and relatability are a kind of professional currency. But there’s now a clear incentive and advantage for corporate workers and freelancers across sectors to build a personal brand as a content creator‚ or the more professional sounding “thought leader.”

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