What I am pondering this morning: more and more we are building scores and search algorithms based on what we are interested in, what we are looking for based on our past history, and what is popular.
The problem: it’s not just that this kind of algorithm cannot predict what we do not know we need before we see it (e.g. The iPod, when it first came out). It also renders invisible the unpopular.
In a world where our news is shaped by our preferences, it is becoming easier and easier to consign bad things perceived as distant to the “back page” of Google–never seen.
Important = popular with my friends is dangerous.
One way to combat this: fill your regular news feeds with people you only agree with half the time. What other ways are there?
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grunt through search results until you’re on the 15th or 20th page.