How the clipping economy and algorithms reshaped social media feeds
By
David Pierce
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
The article explores how social media feeds have shifted from being driven by user follows and likes to being controlled by opaque algorithms that are being manipulated by an "army of internet users" engaged in clipping and repurposing content. It examines the clipping economy on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts, where content origins are increasingly difficult to trace.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledThe stuff you see on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and elsewhere has become much harder to trace
the feeds are run by algorithms with lots of conflicting incentives, and they are being gamed by an army of internet users you might not even know exist
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