The article discusses the evolution of social media algorithms from simple follow-and-like systems to complex models that analyze user behavior. The focus has shifted to how users interact with content passively, such as viewing time, rather than explicit likes or follows. Initially seen as a revolutionary way to understand preferences, users have become aware of algorithmic mechanics, prompting them to alter their online behavior consciously. This phenomenon is compared to the Hawthorne effect, where knowing one is observed influences actions, thereby manipulating engagement strategies to shape social media experiences.
It’s clever, subtle, and even somewhat intimate. But as we’ve come to understand how these systems work, we’ve also begun to perform for them.
Knowing you’re being watched alters our actions. We might clear our watch history to reset our feed.
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