Do we need an anthology on the nature and degree of Big Tech "control" of voters? First we heard that Cambridge Analytica / the Mercers etc. cattle-shuted voters into Facebook-like "lookalike audiences" (e.g. Harcourt, _Exposed_).
Then popular audiences heard in the Atlantic 1/
Then popular audiences heard in the Atlantic 1/
https://twitter.com/BrendanNyhan/status/1479571047829618688
that Facebook (_if_ I understand correctly) didn't manipulate of voters but rather, created a machine that autonomously - is that the adverb of the year 2021? - sorted us out: “Facebook’s advertising algorithm has gotten so much better at automating campaign 2/
management that it can now easily outperform a human manager": the company advises advertisers to “embrace a certain agnosticism towards placement, platforms and yes, even audience. This gives _systems_ more opportunities to consider when assessing which will deliver /3
the best performance.” We may be uneasy at the metaphor used here ("octopus-like aliens convey signs, humans figure out how to write back") but the point is, neither the Mercers nor anyone else controls the audience-formation.
And now, Robertson et al are finding, 4/
And now, Robertson et al are finding, 4/
manipulators, shmanipulators, Republicans are making their own choices.
I'm doubtless misrepresenting, crudely, maybe missing the point. But my sense is that we're in a fascinating jungle of decision-making, possibly all 3 forces (manipulation, randomness, agent choice), 5/
I'm doubtless misrepresenting, crudely, maybe missing the point. But my sense is that we're in a fascinating jungle of decision-making, possibly all 3 forces (manipulation, randomness, agent choice), 5/
very much worth exploring. I would value comments from those in the know. 6/
theatlantic.com/technology/arc…
theatlantic.com/technology/arc…
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