No… Twitter’s New Algorithm Won’t Ruin Your Timeline, Dumbass. Here’s why
It has been rumored that Twitter is going to scrap their current timeline, and revamp it with a timeline that is based on an algorithm. This change is rumored to launch as early as next week… and the Internet is NOT HAPPY!!!
Let’s look at the facts: Twitter is a platform that is used by roughly 320 million monthly users. The platform is free to use, available to all, and the primary news source for many millenials… but the truth is clear: Twitter is in freefall.
“How can Twitter abandon its primary users like this?”
Like most of you, this news came as a shock to me. I originally came to Twitter in 2009 with the hope that I would find all of the latest news, and updates from my close friends. Once I started building a brand online, I jumped to Twitter and clung to it. Twitter allowed me to promote my thoughts to the masses instantly. It allowed my ideas to instantly influence thousands of individuals, as well as promote anything else I was working on. At this point, Twitter was pure, and the platform was all that was right in the world for me.
That Twitter is dead, and it’s never coming back.
Nostolgia can be a dangerous thing. Remembering the ‘old days’ can be fulfilling, but ultimately based in a false sense of reality. I often see memes saying things like, “In the 20’s, people dressed better. I wish I was alive then.” Maybe true, but in the 20’s, African-Americans were considered second class citizens. Diseases that we have been eradicated today were still very prominent. Long story short: We still have problems, but back then, life sucked, and it has only gotten better.
Now let’s look at corporate Twitter:
Twitter is a publically traded company, with shareholders that want, no NEED, it to succeed. At the end of the day, every publicly-traded company you love exists because shareholders believe in it. They give money, expect the product to do well, and eventually make more money. They still CARE about the users, because at the end of the day, they are NOTHING without users. However, they are competing with platforms like Facebook and YouTube. YouTube is the #1 source of video, and Facebook (while still pushing out video) is ultimately the #1 source of news for billions of individuals. BILLIONS.
Now let’s look at you:
Algorithms run your life. From curating your Amazon ‘what to buy’ list, to YouTube, Facebook, and Google: Algorithms ultimately make everyone’s life better. They curate purchases, videos, and posts based on YOUR interests, YOUR purchase habits, and YOUR personality. It’s scary that computers can accurately track your habits and predict future habits, but somewhat amazing. Not to mention INCREDIBLY useful!
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” — Henry Ford
No one knows what Twitter’s new (potential) change will hold, but I think it’s insane to plan for the worst. Overall, algorithms have drastically improved the experience for most users on nearly every platform.
Instead of complaining about this change, why not instead use it as an opportunity to grow and expand. Seems like a much better use of time.
