The more I think about it, these platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) aren't "social" and they aren't agnostic "publishers" they are something I can only describe as "Network Effect Arbitrage Machines." [Thread]
A cursory reading of these platforms would be that they take user generated content, publish it for free, and sell ads against it.
But this is too simplistic.
But this is too simplistic.
These platforms also harness network effects within each platform silo. They take upvotes, views and links in order to cross promote the content and understand it better.
These user generated networks are the value add they provide over publishing on your own webpage.
These user generated networks are the value add they provide over publishing on your own webpage.
The money comes from ads, and ad buyers can buy against the improved understanding of the content available from the platforms understanding of those network effects.
But this isn't a two sided market, it has tree sides: Advertisers, Publishers, and Users.
But this isn't a two sided market, it has tree sides: Advertisers, Publishers, and Users.
Users *believe* these network effects drive what they see in their feeds, promoted and we'll positioned content. But that isn't true, because that would be too inneficient.
Instead, platfroms have identified an arbitrage opportunity.
Instead, platfroms have identified an arbitrage opportunity.
Network Effect Arbitrage: the creation of artificial connections in the network in order to capture greater attention.
Instead of seeing the most *relevant* content through connections in the network we see what captures our attention the longest: extremism.
Instead of seeing the most *relevant* content through connections in the network we see what captures our attention the longest: extremism.
This system, in its entirety, blows apart the argument that these platforms are agnostic publishers that aren't responsible for the content.
They are *actively* promoting content users do not prefer, that is not well ranked by the network, in order to capture attention for ads.
They are *actively* promoting content users do not prefer, that is not well ranked by the network, in order to capture attention for ads.
Extremism moved to the Web pretty much the moment the Web was invented. But it didn't grow the way it has until recently.
The network effects of the Web required *active* linking between publishers. The linking of content in platform silo's is *articifial*.
The network effects of the Web required *active* linking between publishers. The linking of content in platform silo's is *articifial*.
That's the thing about "Artificial Intelligence," it's *artificial*!
When applied to network graphs of user generated content and user generated links it will make new artificial connections to further the goal it is given, in this case: capturing attention as long as possible.
When applied to network graphs of user generated content and user generated links it will make new artificial connections to further the goal it is given, in this case: capturing attention as long as possible.
