Thread

1. Buttons840 · 1790132383 · focus · HN ↗

   What is an "algorithm"? Showing the 20 most recent posts is an algorithm, but I doubt that's what they're targeting with the law.

   I'm not just trying to find a technical gotcha here. I think it's worth identifying what exactly about an "algorithm" causes it to cross the line and become harmful.

   When does an algorithm become harmful?

   When it is designed and optimized to maximize the amount of time it engages the user?

   What about an algorithm that was optimized the present the user with content they would find interesting? That doesn't sound so bad on the surface.

   What about an algorithm that maximizes the amount of ads people see? Or the amount of money that the company makes?

   1. forestry · 1790132827 · focus · HN ↗

      It’s a good question, and it’s not well defined. I am hoping that it allows us to customise feeds more. If I have problems with body image, don’t show me topless photos. Same goes with alcohol and gambling, which some platforms do have. The answer must not be either be subjected to content you don’t want to see or don’t use social media at all.

      I think the line for algorithms is anything machine learning or neural network based, not simple ordering.

      Side note: When iterating on male avatars, ChatGPT incrementally increases muscular features without being prompted to do so. There are biases in these machine-learned algorithms.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.