Should probably point out that the trending tag is targeted to you personally.
Like when people obliviously complain about seeing ads for 'gay sex' on Google not knowing it's targeted specifically at them because of their browsing habits.
I (straight man) keep seeing ads for feminine hygiene products, dildos, and sexy womens underwear. Also, ads for managing enterprise IT systems. I have no use for any of that stuff.
Maybe the targeting just isn't as good as the people selling their ad tech make it seem.
I don't use Twitter, I was talking about random web ads that I believe are served by Google (or companies that Google bought). Maybe they should fire half their staff too.
This implies that the algorithm identifies people who engage in leftwing politics and targets rightwing hashtags to them. I suppose that magnifies rage-engagement.
I was a (European) lefty my whole life. I lived on all continents for many years. Now back in Europe, I was shocked what the left has become. Full of bigotry and racism. I call it the “new left”.
Gladly, an increasing number of people seem to notice.
Trending/For You always has one rightwing hashtag on it, often repeatedly, no matter how matter how often I click "not interested"/"this is harmful" and add it to muted.
"not interested" doesn't seem to work for me at all, no matter how many times i click it the trend almost always just reappears on refresh, sometimes even higher than it was before.
Well, we could argue about the filter bubble and algorithmic amplification, which can be (and often are) terrible things -- however, as it stands right at this moment, as far as the individual is concerned, you can still, mostly, choose what you see -- the algorithm will just show you more of whatever you clicked, rather than trying to steer you to something.
The Algorithm is still arguably a terrible detriment to society at large, but I think one can still find use in twitter and see very little of what one doesn't want to see. That may cease to be true sometime, perhaps even soon, but it works at the moment if you are judicious with who you follow.