The algorithm should be simple enough that you can write it out and look at it. Hexbears is a clear mathematical formula based on upvotes, comments, time, etc., not a black box that maximizes attention
That’s the Active sort algorithm, which I restored to the original Hexbear Active sort after we merged back to upstream lemmy. See file up.sql for the actual algorithm. It’s unfortunately rather difficult to read for those not technically inclined, and kinda hard to understand clearly even for those who can read it. I came to understand it by trying out some basic examples to understand how it worked.
Basically, for several hours after a post, recent comments adjust the time of the post forward to make it come off as more recent, which pushes its rank higher. Right after the post is made, a comment can adjust the post time into the future, maximizing this effect. This effect fades away after several hours, though, such that posts 8 or 9 hours old or older have trouble rising to the top of the feed when competing with newer posts.
I don’t think sorting is the same as an algorithm. Hot/Top/Controversial/New/Old are specific ways of sorting things. By Algorithmic I meant where they track every click, movement, and pause to decide what to show you next.
Sorting the feed is literally what any algorithm is, choosing what content to show when. I think what you’re against is personalised algorithms, but even for algorithms that just prioritise engagement or retention, it could be argued that hexbear’s algorithm does exactly that too. Albeit, not in as sophisticated a manner as say instagrams.
I am fine with being able to click a button and say “Show me the stuff with the most engagement on the entire site in the last 24 hours” or something like that. Because that is the same for everyone and is just a way to find active discussions. What I am not fine with is where everyones feed is different and determined by specific things being tracked about them. I see it as unhealthy and addictive to the users and as promoting reactionary behavior in society at large.
Hexbear also has an algorithm. Upvotes increase visibility, age decreases visibility, posts are weighted by community size etc.
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The algorithm should be simple enough that you can write it out and look at it. Hexbears is a clear mathematical formula based on upvotes, comments, time, etc., not a black box that maximizes attention
https://github.com/hexbear-collective/lemmy/pull/6
That’s the Active sort algorithm, which I restored to the original Hexbear Active sort after we merged back to upstream lemmy. See file up.sql for the actual algorithm. It’s unfortunately rather difficult to read for those not technically inclined, and kinda hard to understand clearly even for those who can read it. I came to understand it by trying out some basic examples to understand how it worked.
Basically, for several hours after a post, recent comments adjust the time of the post forward to make it come off as more recent, which pushes its rank higher. Right after the post is made, a comment can adjust the post time into the future, maximizing this effect. This effect fades away after several hours, though, such that posts 8 or 9 hours old or older have trouble rising to the top of the feed when competing with newer posts.
Time traveling posts
I don’t think sorting is the same as an algorithm. Hot/Top/Controversial/New/Old are specific ways of sorting things. By Algorithmic I meant where they track every click, movement, and pause to decide what to show you next.
Sorting the feed is literally what any algorithm is, choosing what content to show when. I think what you’re against is personalised algorithms, but even for algorithms that just prioritise engagement or retention, it could be argued that hexbear’s algorithm does exactly that too. Albeit, not in as sophisticated a manner as say instagrams.
OK so let me be more clear:
I am fine with being able to click a button and say “Show me the stuff with the most engagement on the entire site in the last 24 hours” or something like that. Because that is the same for everyone and is just a way to find active discussions. What I am not fine with is where everyones feed is different and determined by specific things being tracked about them. I see it as unhealthy and addictive to the users and as promoting reactionary behavior in society at large.