You have surely heard of the YouTube algorithm. Or the facebook algorithm. Or the Google one. By this point ‘The Algorithm’ is in our vernacular to describe someone trying to control our attention.
In the docudrama ‘The Social Dilemma’, we are shown how these internet companies vie for our attention and our dollars by controlling what shows up in our social media threads.
I found the movie a bit conspiracy theorist, but it isn’t too hard to believe in at least some partial truth.
Advertisers have been vying for our attention for centuries. It’s the oldest trick in the book, and perhaps the second oldest profession.
I’ve always had a distaste for advertising that is aggressive or manipulative.
And it’s happened to all of us.
Have you ever been talking to your friends or partner or kids about some obscure thing only to have it show up in your facebook feed minutes later?
Weird, right?
That’s a long way for me to go to get to the algorithm, because in this week’s Episode I’m really just talking about what algorithms ARE.
In essence, they are models.
And models are just Simplifications.
This is a must watch to consider yourself an informed consumer.
Full Episode this Friday right here at KEW www.chrisburcher.com
Thank you for your attention:)