Social Media Algorithms: Friend or Enemy?

Every social media platform has an algorithm that chooses which posts to show on people’s feeds first. Each platform has a different algorithm, but most of them prioritize the posts from people you engage with the most on the platform. For example, if you’ve liked and commented on every single one of your best friend’s Instagram pictures, a recent post from them will probably show up first in your feed when you open the app. It seems simple enough and relatively harmless, but in recent years they have become increasingly controversial.

            The downsides of social media algorithms have been rearing their ugly head lately. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube are often accused of “hiding” posts from people depending on the content in the posts, even though the platforms’ guidelines are being met. On YouTube, longer-form content such as videos over an hour long seem to be getting recommended to people more, while a few years ago, 5-minute videos were getting pushed out constantly.

This ever-changing algorithm poses a problem for full-time creators who specialize in posting short form content or long form content, because if the algorithm changes and they no longer get views, they no longer get paid.

            Algorithms also may be having more consequences on our mental health than we realize, especially for influencers and other full-time content creators. Hannah Godwin (@hannahg11), who is a social media influencer with a large following, posted a TikTok recently discussing how she’s been having a hard time telling the difference between content she actually enjoys making and what will get the most likes on a post. She discussed how so many decisions she makes in her daily life are based on what she thinks her audience will like and what the algorithms will push out more. She summarized that this has impacted her sense of self and caused her to look for constant validation from other people in real life, not just on social media.

            Although algorithms were created just with the simple intention to show people posts more relevant to them, we see every day how much they really impact us even if we don’t realize it. The best thing to do is to be aware of how different algorithms work and change over time.