Today, we’re exploring a shadowy side to Facebook you might not have heard about. You’re all familiar with the damage they’re doing to our teens and the effect their algorithm has on our mental health. But once upon a time, they took publishers for a roller coaster ride that was exhilarating at first, but let’s just say they intentionally neglected to lay tracks over the last bridge.
It began with the launch of the Facebook Newsfeed which amplified everything your friends were sharing online. With Newsfeed, Facebook had gone from campus directory to central nexus of your life. It exploded beyond universities. With News Feed any user would have a greater reach. People started sharing more. And the more people used it, the more relevant it became.
Zuckerberg wanted to give users the ability to share more than just their personal details. He thought it should be more compelling. Back then, user generated content wasn’t as good as it is now, so he would need to lean on professional outfits to infuse the feed with news and entertainment.
(Listen to the story here!)
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