Algorithms are long mathematical equations. In computer science these equations are used to process data in a specific way and to solve problems. Most websites collect data every time a user visits their site. This means the people who own the site, the website host and other companies that are involved in running the site collect information about users.
Which information they collect, depends strongly on the website. In the EU websites have to tell you which information they collect, why they collect it and what they are going to do with it. You find all these details in their privacy policies. Algorithms are the bits of code that sift through this data. Depending on what the algorithm was written for, it then shows different results from that data.
Data collection
Social media websites, for example, collect a lot of information about you. They know when you visit the site, which posts you look at, what kind of content you like and/or comment on. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook even know how long you look at a post.
This information is collected all day every day. Why, you may ask. This is where algorithms come in. When you open up your feed on a social media site, you will see recommended posts, reels, videos etc. Algorithms analysed your past behaviour and use it to choose what else to show you.
Gatekeepers
Have you ever wondered why you get similar posts about mostly the same topics all the time? That’s algorithms at work. Do you watch cooking videos? Do you scroll past angry arguments or jump right in? Which topics do you comment on and react to?
Algorithms give you more of the same because the goal on a social media site is to keep you on the website for as long as possible. The longer you scroll through your feed, the more ads they can show you and the more money they make. So, on social media sites the problem algorithms solve is “how to keep users on the site for as long as possible”.
Search engine algorithms solve a different problem. Google, for example, constantly collects data on keywords people search for, the websites they then click on, how long they stay on a page and so on. Algorithms for search engines solve the problem “how to present the best search results”. “Best” in this case means websites many people have clicked on or looked at in the past and websites with great SEO (Search Engine Optimization). These sites will rank higher in search results.
Neutral
Algorithms are just mathematical equations. They don’t care. They are lines of code. It’s nothing personal. They were written by people for a specific purpose and once you know what that purpose is, you can use them to improve your experience. It’s important to understand that algorithms do not show you what you like. They measure engagement, meaning how much time you spend looking at a post, clicking like buttons, comment on it or share it.
The algorithms cannot distinguish between a positive or a negative reaction. It makes no difference if you share a post because you loved it or because you were outraged. They cannot tell if you commented, leaving a compliment, or got into an argument. Engagement is the only data that is collected. Algorithms show you more of what you spend the most time with. Whether this is good for you or not, is irrelevant. Now that you know this, though, you can use them to create a healthier and happier social media experience for yourself in a few minutes a day.
How to train your algorithm
The next time you are about to open the social media app of your choice, decide what you want to see more of in future. Then deliberately engage with those posts and their creators. Like, comment, share and subscribe. Resolutely scroll past posts you no longer want to see.
Do this for a few days and the algorithm catches on, changing the content it shows you. Algorithms can be your best friend because they give you more of what you engage with. Might just as well use them to make your life happier and easier.
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