Factually! with Adam Conover How the Algorithm Warps Our Culture with Kyle Chayka
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Mar 6, 2024 
Discover how algorithms shape our online experience as Kyle Chayka chats with Adam about filtering culture. Learn how content creators adapt to algorithmic demands on platforms like TikTok, the struggles of seeking virality, and the importance of human curation over algorithmic recommendations.
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Algorithms Are Human Decisions
- Algorithms are not neutral black boxes; they are designed and controlled by corporate teams and CEOs.
- Calling them "the algorithm" depersonalizes deliberate human decisions shaping feeds.
Algorithms Flatten Culture
- Algorithmic feeds tend to flatten culture toward more homogeneous, ambient, and ignorable content.
- That shift makes audiences more passive and reduces cultural depth.
TikTok's Early Serendipity
- Adam describes TikTok's early 'surprise and delight' that mimicked early internet serendipity.
- He observed that TikTok later became less surprising as it prioritized monetization.