Facebook Might Finally Kill Clickbait With New Algorithm Tweaks (thenextweb.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Next Web: Facebook is bringing two additional tweaks to its News Feed algorithm: time spent viewing and page post diversity. The former is an effort to weed out clickbait and bad content by attempting to quantify quality links. The change appears to be a mobile-first solution, as the announcement only states that Facebook will measure the time spent looking at Instant Articles or those within the mobile browser. Facebook also reports that users enjoy reading articles from a wide range of publishers, a revelation that led them to tweak the algorithm for greater diversity of page posts. In short, the idea is to reduce how often people see content back-to-back, or in short order, from the same page. For most pages, the content is spread out enough to where this shouldn't be much of a problem, but for those that post several updates in a few minutes, it could lead to some of the content not being seen.

Comments

Algorithms

[Laser_iCE]

I wish social networks would stop trying to prioritise my news feeds and home pages for me. I want every post by every page and person I follow and I want it in chronological order. I want to know that when I scroll back to a certain point I have read everything that has been posted since now and that point in time. I understand advertising and monetising and all that jazz but it really puts me off using social networking sites like Facebook.

Re:Algorithms

[NatasRevol]

Their algorithms are ... worrisome.

http://www.npr.org/2014/07/04/...

They can, and HAVE, manipulated their algorithms to affect 100M+ americans mood.

They can, and HAVE, manipulated their algorithms in political events. In 2012, it was just TO vote. In 2016, it very easily could be HOW to vote.

http://fowler.ucsd.edu/massive...

Now imagine if those in control of the algorithms want to lean a race one way or another. A few less articles about Hillary, a few more good articles about Trump. Say -1/+1 every week, until the election. Subtle, but a clear influence pushing neutral folks to FBs leaning.

Re:Hmmm lets see

[wonkey_monkey]

if page.title.contains("you"){setclickbait(true);}

Much simpler.

Re:Facebook kills clickbait with one simple tweak.

[mcgrew]

I'm not sure that clickbait is inherently bad

I am. Clickbait does nothing but waste one's time. I've gotten to where I never click a link in facebook, especially ones that facebook "suggests", because every single God damned one of them are worth less than nothing.

I laughed at the slashdot headline. Facebook fighting clickbait? That's like a coal-fired power plant fighting global warming. CLICKBAIT IS WHY PEOPLE BUY STOCK ON FACEBOOK. Their entire business model is based on clickbait.