How algorithms make people, places, and ideas boring (podcast)

28 snips

Jan 27, 2025

Kyle Chayka, author of "Filterworld" and staff writer at The New Yorker, dives into how algorithms are reshaping culture. He discusses the alarming uniformity in aesthetics of coffee shops globally due to social media influences. The conversation highlights the trade-offs of prioritizing engagement metrics, leading to extreme content and a homogenized cultural landscape. Chayka also shares thoughts on the bizarre rise of mundane videos tackling dark themes and reflects on the implications of losing authenticity in the age of algorithms.

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ANECDOTE

Dog Taught Joy In The Mundane

Kyle describes his dog teaching him to enjoy being outside and mandated walks.
This shifted him to appreciate mundane cityscapes and weather more.

ANECDOTE

Same Coffee Shops Everywhere

Kyle noticed identical hip coffee shops across cities worldwide during travels in 2015–2016.
That repeated encounter sparked his interest in how digital platforms shape real-world culture.

INSIGHT

Feeds Shape Global Culture

Algorithms pick and deliver content based on engagement and your past behavior.
That filtering shapes what cultural goods you see and encourages global sameness.

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Michael speaks with Kyle Chayka, who is one of his favorite thinkers on technology and how it’s changing our lives—what we see and experience and how we live.

Kyle is the author of Filterworld: How Algorithms Flatten Our Culture, an exceedingly thought-provoking book.

Kyle and Michael cover:

* A rapid-fire where Kyle reveals his death row meal, the best and most annoying parts of writing for the New Yorker, what he learned from his dog, and more.

* How algorithms influence our cultural experiences and lead to a “sameness” in culture worldwide.

* Kyle gives a great example of how the “look” of hip coffee shops worldwide is similar due to Instagram algorithms.

* How algorithms actually work.

* How algorithms filter content based on engagement metrics and what we gain and lose by prioritizing “engagement.” This alters everything from the friends we stay in touch with to the health information we see to the places we go.

* How algorithms are changing content:

* Kyle gives the example of how the rise of TikTok has changed how music is being created.

* Why algorithms often lead online creators to create increasingly extreme content.

* How algorithms incentivize useless and extreme health information.

* The strange rise of videos featuring someone doing something boring while talking about something heinous. E.g. A video of someone knitting with a voiceover saying, “When I was seven, a truck driver brutally murdered my neighbor and ever since then 18-wheelers have become triggering for me …”

* Why getting a recommendation from a human is often more trustworthy and interesting.

* How to be more mindful of the media you consume. This will help you find more interesting and useful media.

* Why understanding the business model behind content is crucial for consumers. “If you’re not paying for media, you’re the product.”

* Why directly supporting artists and creators often leads to better and more diverse work.

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