Social media platforms are increasingly offering users control over their feeds, allowing them to tailor what they see. This shift comes after years of platforms relying on algorithmic recommendations, which often led to users seeing irrelevant or toxic content. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have introduced features that enable users to provide specific feedback about their interests and dislikes.
Instagram's Vice President of Product, Tessa Lyons, explained that advances in AI's understanding of language make it possible for platforms to process specific feedback from users. This allows users to tell the algorithm what they want to see more or less of, using human language. For example, Instagram's "your algorithm" feature lets users see which topics the app believes they're interested in and add topics they want to see or avoid.
The move to give users more control over their feeds is a response to user frustration with algorithmic recommendations. Many users felt they had lost control over their feeds, which were often filled with content they didn't want to see. This frustration has grown as AI has played a larger role in mediating what people see online. Some users have expressed a desire to return to chronological feeds, where they can see the latest updates from accounts they follow.
Several social media platforms have introduced features to give users more control over their feeds. In 2022, Instagram brought back the chronological feed as an option, and last June, TikTok introduced a "manage topics" feature. YouTube has also announced a "custom feeds" offering, which lets users create dedicated tabs tailored to specific needs or interests. These features aim to balance user control with the benefits of recommended content.
The new features have the potential to change how users interact with social media platforms. According to Tim Weninger, a computer science and engineering professor, users often engage with content that upsets or angers them, which can confuse algorithms. However, by giving users more control over their feeds, platforms may be able to promote healthier interactions. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact users and the platforms themselves.
Instagram plans to prompt users to engage more with its "your algorithm" feature, which is currently accessible via a button on the Reels tab. YouTube's custom feeds feature is also expected to evolve, with the platform's CEO, Neal Mohan, noting that separating AI-generated from human-made content is an "artificial distinction." As these features continue to develop, users may have more control over their online experiences.
The changes to social media platforms reflect a broader shift towards giving users more agency online. By providing more control over feeds, platforms can promote healthier interactions and reduce the spread of misinformation. As AI continues to play a larger role in mediating online content, users are demanding more control over what they see.
Key points
- Social media platforms are introducing features to give users more control over their feeds.
- The move is a response to user frustration with algorithmic recommendations.
- The changes have the potential to promote healthier interactions and reduce the spread of misinformation.
