Exploring Algorithmic Recommendations vs. Human Curation
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The Dilemma of Algorithmic Recommendations
This brief article delves into the drawbacks of relying heavily on algorithmic recommendations instead of human editorial oversight. Recently, a conversation with a friend from Manhattan turned to Medium.com in 2022. We observed that influential figures, like Barack Obama, continue to use the platform as a vehicle for their messages. Suddenly, my friend burst into laughter. Curious, I asked what was amusing him. He then revealed that President Biden had once been served erotic content on Medium.
I was shocked. "No way! Are you serious?" I exclaimed. He sent me a link to an article from The Verge. In early 2021, a staff member logged into Biden’s official account and was surprised to find a piece titled "A is for After" among the top recommendations. This issue persisted even after an employee attempted to refresh Biden’s suggested content.
The Importance of Biden's Experience
You may have noticed a recent notification in Medium’s Help Center indicating updates to its distribution and curation systems. Just last week, I was among the first to share this somewhat ambiguous news and raised several questions.
What’s New in Medium’s Curation?
The FAQ section sheds light on the updates regarding the recommendation algorithm, distribution, and editorial curation, with insights from Scott Lamb, Medium’s Vice President of Product.
Will human curation still exist?
Indeed, human curation will remain integral to Medium, though changes are on the horizon. For example, users will no longer receive notifications about being "Chosen for Further Distribution."
What about editorial curation in publications?
Curation within publications remains crucial. Medium will continue to employ editorial discretion to highlight high-quality stories discovered on the platform.
Why is algorithmic distribution essential?
Scott Lamb emphasized that readers understand their interests and will engage with meaningful stories. Thus, algorithmic distribution plays a vital role in connecting stories to the right audience.
Can the algorithm assign tags to my story?
The algorithm is capable of adding tags to stories, which may then feature on related topic pages, even if the original author did not include those tags.
Final Thoughts on the Algorithmic Landscape
The presence of algorithms has become unavoidable across social media platforms. Based on what I've learned about the forthcoming changes and community sentiment, it appears Medium will increasingly rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in its operations.
Consequently, we must adapt to understand what "quality" signifies within Medium’s AI framework.
Tony Stubblebine aims to elevate the quality standards on Medium through AI. If you want to be favored by Medium’s algorithm, it’s crucial to stay informed about upcoming announcements.
I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on Biden’s experience and Medium’s recent updates.
© Kristina God
PS: Don’t forget to follow "Online Writing Made Simple" for more insights! Kristina God is a recognized Top Writer on Medium and enjoys sharing her writing tips and tricks. Follow her on Medium, Twitter, and Quora, and subscribe to her 'Medium 101' newsletter for daily advice!
Chapter 2: Video Insights into Biden's Remarks
In this section, we will explore video content that provides additional context to the discussions surrounding Biden and Medium's recommendation system.
Watch Biden's full remarks at the 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner, shedding light on media and technology.
Catch Biden's complete speech from the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner, discussing the intersection of politics and media.