• pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    This is the part that people have to see the most:

    The algorithm also favors controversial views, making politically polarizing content more successful. This was Sam’s experience in running Emily’s account, which he characterized as “rage bait.” Even though liberals would flock to the page to leave irate comments, they were still clicking. “It’s a win-win situation, because you’re getting engagement anyway, and your content will go viral,” he says.

    • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
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      5 minutes ago

      well this is the consequence of a platform not having a downvote button. people think that having a downvote button causes controversies because now people can be angry at other people, but actually it allows people to downvote bad content to remove it from the algorithm without having to click + write a comment.

    • notwhoyouthink@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      This is the exact reason conservative streamers have risen as quickly as they have. It’s all rage-bait engagement farming.

    • Ech@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      Pretty much every form of content these days is engagement bait. As it turns out, the only things advertisers care to clutch their pearls over in the modern age is sex and drugs. The only concern otherwise is getting as many eyes on it as possible, and nothing gets attention quite like outrage.

    • Sarah@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I guess this is what people mean when they say there is no such thing as bad publicity!