The power of the twitter algorithm. 3.6 million people have watched this track and field video

ESPN featured it too. Was that part of the "Twitter algorithm" conspiracy too?

So Rojo thinks Twitter decides what becomes popular.

rojo wrote:

To me, it shows you the power of big-tech. What they view as popular is popular.

I mean, the tech employees aren't behind the scenes deciding what is popular and pushing certain videos over others, but I agree that the algorithms are often stupid and evil.

I know someone who has somehow figured out how to manipulate the facebook algorithm. He makes these stupid short videos with titles like "HE SUPRISED HIS GF WITH SUPER ROMANTIC DATE!" or "CLUELESS SECURITY GUARD CHASES PRANKSTERS!" They're all fake and nothing funny or interesting actually happens. But based on when they drop it and how they tag sh*t each video will get hundreds of millions of views. He's making tens of thousands of dollars every month.

On the other hand, is it entirely the algorithm's fault that people choose to click on these videos, watch them all the way through, and leave credulous comments? It would be nice if people could tamp down a little bit on their bottomless appetites for painfully stupid BS.

The Gallant Pig Man wrote:

On the other hand, is it entirely the algorithm's fault that people choose to click on these videos, watch them all the way through, and leave credulous comments? It would be nice if people could tamp down a little bit on their bottomless appetites for painfully stupid BS.

That is exactly the hidden genius of the algorithms. Over time they have learned to exploit deep "flaws" in human psychology and hormone response to generate the most clicks.

Previous gatekeepers weren't nearly as good at this, and they were not nearly as singular in their pursuit of the narrow goal of "engagement" -- that is, clicks and views. Moreover, they didn't have the ability to show something different to each and every user, so we had a less fractured sense of true, false, right, and wrong.

Kendall Ellis' walk-down in 2018 was even better in my opinion and got 1.8 mil views on the NCAA T&F Twitter alone.

https://twitter.com/NCAATrackField/status/1005620221757964288

rojo wrote:

grave disease wrote:

How was popularity determined in the past? If anything, I'd say it was even more arbitrary: a very small number of "gatekeepers" (e.g. newspaper editors, book publishers, TV producers) decided what got a big audience. I don't think there was ever a perfectly unbiased state where news got attention in proportion to its true interest/importance, but I'd say that despite its obvious flaws the current system is closer to that ideal to the olden days.

I don't get what you are saying. Now the gatekeeper is basically the ssame if not letss. Before itw as ABC, CBS, NBC. Now it's twitter, facebook, tiktok.

This is the perfect example of why tiktok must be US owned or banned. We can't hav ea foreign company deciding what news we get via algorithm.

Holy smokes RoJoke.

I get where you can be frightened and confused by big tech. They are playing 4D chess while you’re still drawing stick figures on this day 1 HTML coded website.

Heres the thing: Ask 3.59million of those who watched WHO they watched and they will have no clue.

They saw a fast runner pass a few people and win. Said a silent WOW and moved on with life. Forgotten in a day if not shorter.

They watch because this was pushed on by social media and its long forgotten in a world filled with other compelling videos.

whassuppp wrote:

ESPN featured it too. Was that part of the "Twitter algorithm" conspiracy too?

I saw this thread, then it popped in my feed as being "as featured on sportscenter. This was definitely a big part of this going viral.

That's hilarious that you're complaining about what sticks and what's buried, rojo.

whassuppp wrote:

ESPN featured it too. Was that part of the "Twitter algorithm" conspiracy too?

I don't do Twitter or TikTok but I saw this story and video on at least 3 websites for traditional media outlets.