As the study published by MIT Sloan Management Review shows, algorithms of recommender systems not only reflect user preferences but also shape them [1].
Another study points to biases in recommendation systems. For example, algorithms tend to recommend too homogenous or only new content [2].
Algorithms on content platforms like TikTok or YouTube effectively increase user engagement and ad visibility, which can hurt your well-being and mental health.
Below we share five tips on how to use recommender systems wisely and take control back into your hands.
Facebook/Instagram
Do you feel like you're burning up too much time engaging in pointless polemics or prying into the lives of strangers?
Compromise: Follow only the people closest to you (reduces comparison anxiety) and actionable content that encourages you to leave the platform. Unfollow everything else.
For example, by following your favorite bands and artists, you will get the latest information about their work and concerts, which will increase the joy of discovery and save precious time.
On Facebook, don't forget to click on Feeds, which will allow you to see only the content you're following, without recommended content or ads.
Netflix
Tired of predictable and trite Netflix content?
Compromise: Use tools like IMDB Charts or A Good Movie To Watch (A Random Suggestion feature) to discover more original and interesting movies and series.
I especially recommend A Good Movie To Watch. The portal provides not only ratings and detailed descriptions but also platforms where you can watch a series or a movie that intrigues you.
Spotify
Do you no longer enjoy the music you listen to or find it difficult to discover something new?
Compromise: Last.fm (Play your recommendations) feature. My personal experience shows that the recommendation system used on the portal offers a wider range of new but potentially appealing music.
YouTube
Tired of stewing in your own juice and watching the same type of content? Is it difficult to discover something new, and the search results are disappointing?
Compromise: subscribing to a limited number of creators whose content you're comfortable with and deleting your watch history will at least reduce the impact of algorithms on your feed.
You'll find watch history here.
TikTok
Are you kidding me? :)
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, may put sensitive user data, like location information, into the hands of the Chinese government. They have pointed to laws that allow the Chinese government to secretly demand data from Chinese companies and citizens for intelligence-gathering operations. [3]
Compromise: No compromise - delete TikTok immediately if you value your time and personal data.
[1] Adomavičius, G., Bockstedt, J., Curley, S. P., Zhang, J., & Ransbotham, S. (2018). The Hidden Side Effects of Recommendation Systems. MIT Sloan Management Review
[2] Bhadani, S. (2021). Biases in Recommendation System. Fifteenth ACM Conference on Recommender Systems, 855–859. https://doi.org/10.1145/3460231.3473897
[3] Maheshwari, S., & Holpuch, A. (2023, October 10). Why countries are trying to ban TikTok. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/tiktok-ban.html