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Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

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Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#981
post #792

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean yeah it must be elon we know but what I was mostly curious about was if it’s actually meant for him only, why didn’t they use his twitter handle? And just elon? I am not a developer I must mention it looks like. And I was genuinely curious.

"author_is_elon" (notice the _ ) is a name the developer writing that code came up with for a category of twitter users. it has nothing to do with twitter handles. he could have chosen any name, but since that category includes only elon musk, he named it like that.

Right, this makes sense. Thanks.

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#982
post #477

It's disappointing the comments are so obsessed with the political angle to this that there's a total lack of appreciation (or discussion) of opening up the most influential social media platform in the world.

This is transparency theatre, not actual transparency. There's no way to actually use this limited release to understand how or why any tweet is boosted, so we're in exactly the same boat we were in yesterday.

But why not shower Twitter with praise for doing more than any other social media company in a similar market position? In the best case scenario, we might inspire a transparency arms race. In the worst case, we merely signal that transparency of any kind is rewarded, and that's a good thing if we want more transparency.

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#984

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The spam SEO issue should be dealt/thought about _before_ engaging in the whole adventure, and having to guess how it could work if decently implemented properly defeats the "open source" spirit of it. More credits would be given if the very idea of open sourcing the algorithm hasn't already been discussed to death with predictions of the difficult points and how it probably won't happen in any sane way.

Makes me wonder if a way to override people SEO hacking the algorithm is to create a market of open-source algorithms that each individual can choose and then it's not trying to hack THE algorithm but having to hack many and not knowing which algorithm an individual is using.

You don't have to target each 'algorithm' all at once. You can target them one at a time. Hell you can run A/B test single out the easiest targets.

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#985
post #477

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is transparency theatre, not actual transparency. There's no way to actually use this limited release to understand how or why any tweet is boosted, so we're in exactly the same boat we were in yesterday.

But why not shower Twitter with praise for doing more than any other social media company in a similar market position? In the best case scenario, we might inspire a transparency arms race. In the worst case, we merely signal that transparency of any kind is rewarded, and that's a good thing if we want more transparency.

> But why not shower Twitter with praise for doing more than any other social media company in a similar market position?

Because selective disclosure is often propaganda. If a third party had chosen what the release or verified this is what's actually running in production, I would praise them.

Considering Elon's incessant lying, self-promotion, and manipulation, it's impossible to be complimentary of this at all. Everything he does is in bad faith.

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#986
Honestly, there's too much garbage in the code dump they made.

Maybe an UML graph or even a presentation or written guide on how they measure and apply each weigh or group policy would make it easier to have some solid take on how it works

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#987
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn’t that make them easy prey of “spam SEO”. However, given the framework isn’t it still possible to guess the models?

The spam SEO issue should be dealt/thought about _before_ engaging in the whole adventure, and having to guess how it could work if decently implemented properly defeats the "open source" spirit of it. More credits would be given if the very idea of open sourcing the algorithm hasn't already been discussed to death with predictions of the difficult points and how it probably won't happen in any sane way.

And them be pilloried for not doing it or not fast enough. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.

I’m starting to think the broblem with Elon is mostly personal, he’s just a proxy and default wrong.

(not that I approve of his behaviors, but I can’t enjoy this whole mobbing that he’s getting; not that he cares this I’m not worried he’s getting traumatized in any way? it’s just how it’s become an identitarian trait for a certain group that irks me.)

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#989

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Makes me wonder if a way to override people SEO hacking the algorithm is to create a market of open-source algorithms that each individual can choose and then it's not trying to hack THE algorithm but having to hack many and not knowing which algorithm an individual is using.

You don't have to target each 'algorithm' all at once. You can target them one at a time. Hell you can run A/B test single out the easiest targets.

Yes but right now there is 100% of the users using the one algorithm (or chronological). If one doesn't know what percentage or which people are using which algorithm, it becomes harder to know which ones to try to hack to have the biggest result.

Re: Twitter's Recommendation Algorithm

#990
post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you try to use the Following tab on Android, every refresh brings you back to the For You tab.

Care to comment on this? [0] Surely Twitter hasn't open sourced and released the recommendation algorithm as you predicted right? Or perhaps when a prediction didn't go according to plan, let us complain about another thing... [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35213705

He's not going to fuck you.
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