Social media sites have made extensive use of AI algorithms to improve the user experience. However, it’s often unclear exactly how these algorithms affect the user experience. Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, have announced a number of initiatives aimed at giving consumers more insight and control over their content consumption.
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By being more open about the use of AI in determining user experience, Meta is attempting to address the issue. To this end, the company has released 22 educational cards that take a deep dive into how AI algorithms affect the content that appears on Facebook and Instagram. Users can see how AI affects the material they see by reading about features such as the ‘Discover’ page and user suggestions in these cards. Meta has also announced the expansion of these explanations to include elements such as “Why am I seeing this article” in the coming weeks.
In addition to improving transparency, Meta gives users the ability to organise their preferred content across Facebook and Instagram through a single control tool. Previously, Instagram users had the option to mark posts as “not interested”, which was done in an effort to vary their content suggestions. Thanks to the new feature, users will soon be able to select the posts they are interested in, giving Meta additional information to make personalised suggestions. This change will give users more control over how they consume material.
The potential and threats posed by powerful technologies such as generative AI need to be approached with an open mind, according to Nick Clegg, President of International Affairs at Meta. Despite the excitement and concern surrounding these technologies, Meta believes that managing the impact of AI on the user experience requires an open mind.
In particular, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has openly supported the European Union’s desire to regulate AI technology, demonstrating the company’s commitment to moral and responsible AI practices.
Meta aims to empower people and alleviate concerns about AI algorithms by promoting transparency, control and open discussion. These initiatives are a critical step in giving people a thorough understanding of how AI affects their social media experience. Meta aims to create a user-centric environment where people can interact with material that matches their interests and preferences, while minimising any risks associated with AI-powered algorithms through increased transparency and user control.
