I saw a really interesting Ted Talk from a Google engineer waaaaaaay back in or before 2012 (I think), discussing the emerging danger of algorithms isolating people in echo chambers.

Apparently the problem we've got right now is not that people can't foresee these problems, but rather that those in charge, for whatever reason, are completely ignoring the warnings from their own engineers.

[–] Bob_Robertson_IX@discuss.tchncs.de 44 points 4 days ago (1 children)

for whatever reason

Money. It's for money.

[–] ogmios@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Eh... everyone has different reasons, and I'm sure there's a healthy diversity of types involved in this shit.

[–] W_itjust_works@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Money

[–] ogmios@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

0 - 1

Did... you downvote yourself?

[–] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Ive done it before by mistake tbf

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 10 points 4 days ago

I've done it for money

[–] ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 14 points 4 days ago

There's a Kurzgesagt video that talks about how it's not so much that the internet is forming echo chambers as it is encouraging arguments. People aren't just finding others that they agree with, they're attacking people they don't.

Finding people who agree with you isn't necessarily a bad thing. Attacking everyone who don't because you now know a bunch of people have your back is the dangerous part. Algorithms play this up because it drives engagement. Two tribes arguing keeps people coming back for more, so it ends up being all you see online.

[–] Opinionhaver@feddit.uk 3 points 3 days ago

We seem to be finding our way into echo chambers just fine without algorithms or big tech as well.

[–] zabadoh@ani.social 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

That can't possibly be right, because it didn't appear in my YouTube recommendations.