Subscribe now

Columnist and Technology

Stop calling it social media - these firms don't care what we want

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and their ilk were meant to let us chat freely in a digital public square, but the firms running social media are just as corporate as old media, says Annalee Newitz

By Annalee Newitz

14 September 2022

like, hand hand drawn neon style icon. Simple thin line, outline of business icons for ui and ux, website or mobile application; Shutterstock ID 1620158014; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Shutterstock/Mr. Rashad

ANOTHER month, another algorithm change on a social media platform that has everybody peeved online.

This time it is Instagram, the photo-sharing service owned by Facebook. Instead of showing us the cat photos and wedding pictures we want, the app is clogging up our friend feeds with tons of “reels”: autoplaying mini-movies. The problem? Nobody asked for this. The reels aren’t from friends or people you follow. They are just random videos mucking up your feed and making it harder to find the pictures you want to see. As many Instagram fans pointed out, it is a pathetic attempt to …

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 14th June 2023.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account