The pros and cons of the new system – Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’

Twitter has recently announced that it is changing its timeline to an algorithmic “For You” feed for all users on iOS. The feed, previously only accessible by toggling a feature in the app, will now be the default timeline for iOS users, with tweets appearing in reverse chronological order as an option.

While this new algorithm could increase the number of interesting posts that users see on Twitter, it could also take away some of the control they have over their feeds. This expansion will discuss both sides of change and analyse what effects it could have on Twitter users.

Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed Becomes Default Timeline on iOS

With the recent switch to Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed being the default timeline on iOS, users have questioned the pros and cons of this new system. This feed consists of a combination of content from accounts that people follow, popular tweets and other algorithmic content that Twitter believes may be relevant to the user.

Let’s dive into what this new system will bring to the table:

What is the Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed?

Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed, also known as ‘Timeline’, is the default timeline for iOS users. It is an algorithmically-generated feed that uses machine learning technology to curate personalised content for users. This new system is designed to show users more relevant and interesting content, such as tweets from people they follow, or those that may be related to topics they have previously shown interest in.

The Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed offers several positive aspects compared to a strictly chronological timeline. For example, the algorithm does not favour new tweets over older ones and shows up-to-date information regarding trending topics that may appeal to a user’s interests. Some features like ‘Echo’ also allow users to quickly signal their support or engagement with certain types of specific tweets or accounts.

On the other hand, this system can be controversial due to perceived ‘censorship’ in what information somebody receives on their timeline. Additionally, it has been observed by some that this algorithm uses certain metadata that could be seen as unfair including race and gender which could cause disparities between users who are seemingly receiving different Tweets based on their profile data.

after twitter ios latest homeespoacute9to5mac

Ultimately Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed creates a personal experience for each user in attempting to give them tailored content according to their interests and behaviours online; however users are encouraged to keep informed about potential ethical implications imposed by this new technology when creating personalised experience for each consumer.

How does it work?

Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed uses a combination of machine learning and automation to decide what content should be delivered to a user’s timeline. The system is designed to surface tweets that the user is more likely to find relevant and engaging than the reverse-chronological timeline.

The algorithm considers factors like the accounts that a user follows, recent conversations, popular content around topics of interest, tweets previously engaged with and related topic information. It will also prioritise tweets based on relevance and interests instead of time or recency.

This algorithm allows for users to see more timely and relevant content as it is happening in real time. Twitter also claims that this system will help boost engagement on users’ timelines since they are presented with an ever changing stream of freshly personalised content.

The algorithm will continue to learn from user behaviour over time, so if a tweet does not seem relevant or if it does not spark much engagement initially, it may lead to its exclusion from future For You feeds. This way the feed is learning from what users like seeing and programming itself accordingly so that users can get more personalised results tailored for them in their timeline.

Pros

Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed has been turning heads since the launch of its new design. This feature allows Twitter users to tailor the content they view on the app. It allows users to create custom lists and curate the content they see from the people they follow. It has had both positive and negative feedback from users, so let’s dive into the pros of this new feature.

Improved user experience

Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed Becomes Default Timeline on iOS is a new system that offers several potential benefits to Twitter users. One of the primary advantages of this new system is improved user experience. By default, users will now be presented with a timeline tailored to their interests and preferences, making it easier for them to stay up to date on news and topics that are most relevant to them.

The algorithm considers who the user follows on the platform and what content they have interacted with in the past. This curated timeline also pays attention to what topics are being discussed in real-time and shifts accordingly; introducing users to conversations that often pass them by due to the sheer volume of content shared daily on Twitter.

In addition, as Twitter’s Algorithmic ‘For You’ Feed Becomes Default Timeline on iOS uses machine learning algorithms, its curated feed will get better and more accurate over time as it continues “learning” about a user’s interests before ultimately visible in the timeline.

Increased engagement

One of the primary benefits of Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed is that it encourages increased engagement. This is because, unlike the traditional reverse-chronological timeline, the algorithm is tailored to each user based on what they might find interesting. It includes stories that are ‘trending’ or popular within categories the user follows and ‘shows up’ at the top of the timeline. This helps users discover content more easily and interact with it more meaningfully.

Moreover, this algorithmic feed also emphasises tweets from people engaging more actively with their followers. This means users don’t miss any conversations or moments relevant to them even if they’ve logged out for some time. Consequently, interactions (likes, retweets), impressions and other metrics show an overall increase in user activity with this shift.

Cons

With the introduction of Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed as the default timeline on iOS, users have faced both advantages and disadvantages. One of the serious cons of Twitter’s new system is that it curates posts based on algorithms and personal interests, meaning that users may miss important posts from their friends and the larger Twitter community.

Additionally, sponsored posts can easily overwhelm the timeline, making it difficult for genuine posts to stand out.

Loss of chronological order

Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed has become the default timeline on iOS devices. This new system was implemented to provide users with a more tailored experience where they are served content that Twitter believes most relevant to their interests. While this feature certainly comes with some benefits, such as the ability for content creators to find a wider audience, it does have some drawbacks.

One of the major cons of the new system is that it eliminates chronological order from timelines. Before this implementation, all of the posts from accounts users followed were displayed according to time posted—the most recent post would appear at the top of timelines while older ones would fall accordingly. With Twitter’s algorithm in place, however, posts are now sorted in what Twitter perceives as “relevance” instead of strictly according to time posted; this means that instead of seeing a top-down progression of what occurred during the day you could end up seeing an older post above a newer one—even if it was posted several hours later.

This can make it difficult for users who rely on having a clear timeline structure to discern their conversations on posts and topics.

Increased risk of algorithmic bias

The shift to an algorithmic ‘For You’ feed may also carry an increased risk of algorithmic bias. Algorithmic bias is a phenomenon where a computer algorithm used to predict outcomes or recommend content takes unintended prejudices or assumptions into account when making its decisions. This can be seen in how certain topics, ideas, and voices are represented more prominently than others according to the algorithm’s programming.

For example, it could be found that Twitter could inadvertently promote voices and opinions considered privileged or mainstream over alternative points of view through its algorithms. This could create an unequal balance on the platform where diverse perspectives and underrepresented communities were not heard as much as desired.

To address this issue, Twitter needs to look for potential sources of algorithmic bias and develop methods for properly analysing user data to avoid such potentiality. Additionally, effective monitoring systems need to be implemented to detect any signs of systematic prejudice in the platform’s operations and rectify them immediately should they arise:

Look out for potential sources of algorithmic bias.
Develop methods for properly analysing user data.
Implement effective monitoring systems.
Detect any signs of systematic prejudice.
Rectify them immediately should they arise.

Lack of control over content

The main downside of Twitter’s algorithmic ‘For You’ feed becoming the new mobile default timeline is the lack of control users have over what kind of content appears on their timeline. With the previous timeline option, users could choose which accounts they followed, giving them a much more personalised experience as they scrolled through updates.

Instead, the algorithmic ‘For You’ feed uses algorithms to determine which Tweets appear in each user’s timeline. These algorithms are designed to show users the most relevant content based on the topics they interact with most often online and what their friends are talking about. Although this may sound good in theory, it has been found that these kinds of content curation algorithms can sometimes result in a more ‘echo chamber’ like experience where users receive validation for beliefs they already hold and rarely encounter new ideas.

This risk is compounded by Twitter’s controversial trending topics feature which has been known to sometimes be filled with conspiracies or otherwise inaccurate or harmful information sources. This means that rather than being exposed only to material from trusted news sources and friends, some users may find themselves inadvertently exposed low-value material with little editorial oversight on topics ranging from science and engineering to politics and finance.