No one _ever_ even considers "algorithms" in the CS sense here (such as "sorting"), and even bringing that notion up would be deliberately dumbing down the discussion (yet it keeps happening in this thread over-and-over-again because people are for some reason very "well ackshually sorting is an algorithm").

"Algorithm" in this context is very clear what it is. It is not what the word means in Computer Science or in general. Just from the context and without any clarification needed "algorithms" in social media means "addictive personalized feeds".

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ryandrake 2 days ago | parent [-]

I think we need a different word, so that Computer Science grads stop getting wrapped around this axle. We're obviously not talking about Quicksort when we're talking about social media algorithms and other recommendation/discovery algorithms. Heck if I know what that word would be.

	▲	alkonaut 2 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Yes absolutely. Sadly I think that ship has sailed. Now if you ask 100 people in the street what "algorithms" are, I bet a majority among those who answer anything at all will answer it's something related to evil social media corporations.
	▲	addaon 2 days ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		We can call them crypto. Won't make any less sense than the current usages, and it's a really good indicator to stop listening.
	▲	AlecSchueler 2 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Personalised algorithms.