It goes back much further than algorithms. When one used to search the card catalog in the library, serendipitous results were common; replacing that with electronic versions almost completely eliminated that, limiting our search to what we wanted. More efficient, but less new content.
Well written and useful post. It’s difficult to widen the horizon. If I try to find reasonable voices from the other side of the spectrum, my YouTube feed, etc are flooded with wacko extreme examples. I still rely on friends and relatives to recommend new podcasts, music and books.
I’m not sure it so much the algorithm, but that Netflix is having trouble acquiring great content. Back when they rented DVDs they had seemingly endless content. When they shifted to streaming, again they had very deep content. I discovered great content - like Helen Miren’s Prime Suspect series. They changed the head of content in 2013-ish and the content quality began to significantly decline. They have a lot of content but the quality on average is mediocre. We watch a lot of indies & foreign content. Netflix used to be our first stop. Now it is our last.
I was a DVD subscriber until the bitter end because there was so much more content there that was difficult to get through the library or streaming services. I now don't subscribe to any services other than BritBox, and even that is a pain to navigate when you don't know exactly what you want.
I had a revelation recently when staying with a friend. Her feed contained thousands of things I have never seen nor even heard of. We had completely different experiences. It was shocking frankly.
Thanks so much for this brilliant post Hana. Algorithm curation is so restrictive! Even on Substack it just seeks to reinforce echo chambers rather than encourage us to explore new ecosystems. Even Spotify wrapped likes to present a curated version of myself that I never prescribed to. 😢
Substack’s algorithms prevent most of us here from seeing much of the truly objectionable material they host. I often read Substack posts in a RSS feed to avoid being tracked.
Great information and perspective. I like how you empower the reader to think about what's behind the automatic responses at our fingertips and consider other ways of obtaining information that allow us to expand our horizons. Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful essay.
Truly thank you! These articles are well written, intelligent, informative and useful. I appreciate the way in which our Horizon of Possibilities is articulated with concrete examples per source information. I do find these AI algorithms incredibly annoying and to be honest it’s a deterrent for me. I end up not using technology, because the options algorithms present are so flat. There should be an option to say please show me what I’ve not discovered yet outside what the algorithm thinks is popular. The challenge of searching for new options that one does not know exists as a way to discover is ridiculous. I’ve tried blocking each item suggested just so the algorithm would have to think outside the box, but then it ends up saying no results found try again. I think companies just want people to watch, scroll or listen to whatever makes them $ via royalties or paid content. Maybe there should be a “Library” version for content so people can go back to discovering!
I despise algorithms. I would love to scroll through 100 pasta recipes. My mind likes to free range on any kind of information. How else to get good at Jeopardy😆
You've described my experience with Academia recommendations of papers in my field; they suck. I prefer ResearchGate. even if it mostly just notifies me of citations of work from my lab. Retired, and slowly extracting myself from research and discipline involvement, that's just fine.
Along lines similar to those of other commenters here, there was a real pleasure of discovery that came from browsing the stacks when doing research. Some libraries attempt to simulate that experience by providing shelf lists, I think, but it's not the same.
All that said, the expanses of literature that are available digitally today to anyone who is interested, and has access, is just wonderful.
I am constantly telling Instagram and Threads that I am not interested in ads for home improvement, giving "irrelevant" for the reason. Yet its AI can't seem to grasp that it should stop showing me those kinds of ads. Instead it asks me to tell it "what I'm into" so it can show me relevant ads. Among the categories is Home Improvement and "Shirts". It's maddening, and clear that it will keep showing me irrelevant ads no matter what
It goes back much further than algorithms. When one used to search the card catalog in the library, serendipitous results were common; replacing that with electronic versions almost completely eliminated that, limiting our search to what we wanted. More efficient, but less new content.
an algorithm for serendipity is the sell, the horizon of our narcissism is the reality and thus the world is forgotten
Well written and useful post. It’s difficult to widen the horizon. If I try to find reasonable voices from the other side of the spectrum, my YouTube feed, etc are flooded with wacko extreme examples. I still rely on friends and relatives to recommend new podcasts, music and books.
I’m not sure it so much the algorithm, but that Netflix is having trouble acquiring great content. Back when they rented DVDs they had seemingly endless content. When they shifted to streaming, again they had very deep content. I discovered great content - like Helen Miren’s Prime Suspect series. They changed the head of content in 2013-ish and the content quality began to significantly decline. They have a lot of content but the quality on average is mediocre. We watch a lot of indies & foreign content. Netflix used to be our first stop. Now it is our last.
(Subscriber since 2001).
I was a DVD subscriber until the bitter end because there was so much more content there that was difficult to get through the library or streaming services. I now don't subscribe to any services other than BritBox, and even that is a pain to navigate when you don't know exactly what you want.
I had a revelation recently when staying with a friend. Her feed contained thousands of things I have never seen nor even heard of. We had completely different experiences. It was shocking frankly.
This inspires me to browse the stacks at the library even though it has fewer physical books.
Thanks so much for this brilliant post Hana. Algorithm curation is so restrictive! Even on Substack it just seeks to reinforce echo chambers rather than encourage us to explore new ecosystems. Even Spotify wrapped likes to present a curated version of myself that I never prescribed to. 😢
Substack’s algorithms prevent most of us here from seeing much of the truly objectionable material they host. I often read Substack posts in a RSS feed to avoid being tracked.
I agree re Substack, and it’s been on my mind a lot lately. And keeping me off the platform a lot too. I don’t want an echo, I want info.
Great information and perspective. I like how you empower the reader to think about what's behind the automatic responses at our fingertips and consider other ways of obtaining information that allow us to expand our horizons. Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful essay.
Truly thank you! These articles are well written, intelligent, informative and useful. I appreciate the way in which our Horizon of Possibilities is articulated with concrete examples per source information. I do find these AI algorithms incredibly annoying and to be honest it’s a deterrent for me. I end up not using technology, because the options algorithms present are so flat. There should be an option to say please show me what I’ve not discovered yet outside what the algorithm thinks is popular. The challenge of searching for new options that one does not know exists as a way to discover is ridiculous. I’ve tried blocking each item suggested just so the algorithm would have to think outside the box, but then it ends up saying no results found try again. I think companies just want people to watch, scroll or listen to whatever makes them $ via royalties or paid content. Maybe there should be a “Library” version for content so people can go back to discovering!
I despise algorithms. I would love to scroll through 100 pasta recipes. My mind likes to free range on any kind of information. How else to get good at Jeopardy😆
The limits of our algorithms, means the limits of our world(s)-- together but separate.
This is Gatsby (the book, not the person).
You've described my experience with Academia recommendations of papers in my field; they suck. I prefer ResearchGate. even if it mostly just notifies me of citations of work from my lab. Retired, and slowly extracting myself from research and discipline involvement, that's just fine.
Along lines similar to those of other commenters here, there was a real pleasure of discovery that came from browsing the stacks when doing research. Some libraries attempt to simulate that experience by providing shelf lists, I think, but it's not the same.
All that said, the expanses of literature that are available digitally today to anyone who is interested, and has access, is just wonderful.
I am constantly telling Instagram and Threads that I am not interested in ads for home improvement, giving "irrelevant" for the reason. Yet its AI can't seem to grasp that it should stop showing me those kinds of ads. Instead it asks me to tell it "what I'm into" so it can show me relevant ads. Among the categories is Home Improvement and "Shirts". It's maddening, and clear that it will keep showing me irrelevant ads no matter what
This is an excellent and useful essay!
Too long and repetitive. But informative.
Love your articles. Lots of great information.