In September and October or 2021, the Wall Street Journal released nine documents from a former Facebook Insider and titled these documents “The Facebook Files” In these documents, WSJ outlines that “Facebook Inc. knows, in acute detail, that its platforms are riddled with flaws that cause harm, often in ways only the company fully understands.”
Recently, I preached on the topic of the virtue of prudence and its disappearance as a lived virtue because of the habits built by social media platforms. Listening to this homily may provide a greater context to this situation. In this article, I wish to look through the angle of traditional Catholic virtue how algorithmically platforms such as Instagram and TikTok purposefully program both adults and youth to be less virtuous, imprudent and intemperate people.
The Web is Dynamic
It’s been almost two decades since the internet was a static page in which the content that existed on a website was the same regardless of who visited it. A single file existed on a server, a person would make a request for that file and it in turn would be sent to their system. In the mid-2000s, around the time I was entering college, there was a movement called “Web 2.0”. This new form of websites served dynamic content based on feedback provided by the user either directly or indirectly. This started with simple information, such as your location to provide you with accurate weather forecast. Soon, the more programmers and companies learned the power of the internet, more information was provided to the websites. This began to include browsing habits through store files known as “cookies” and interest of the user.
Social Media entered on the scene around the same time. This again started as a page for an individual that was more or less static. But soon grew more dynamic as the platforms grew. As the ability of tracking and knowledge of the end-user developed, these platforms soon began focusing on algorithms that would show content that would keep you on the site longer and keep you more engaged with this content.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibiity
This brings us to the dilemma we have today. How do you define engagement? Is it a positive measurement or is it a negative measurement? WSJ’s reporting uncovered that Facebook’s algorithm actually made Facebook an angrier place. The most engaged posts were the one’s that made people the angriest. These in turn would be pushed to the top of individuals feeds and individuals would create more posts of such character. Throughout 2020 this became clear to a large number of Americans.
Facebook, to their credit, recognized a need to fix this algorithm, yet this was poorly timed around an election cycle. Regardless of the motives of algorithmic changes, it is fairly easy to imagine that motives will be read. To top this off, the WSJ whistle blower reported that this department that was formed to stop election misinformation was dissolved shortly after the end of the 2020 election. (I don’t mean to read motives into this, I am just laying out the facts that have been established).
Algorithms AREN’T Bad
Here is the things. My major in college was Management of Information Systems in Quantitative Analysis. To boil the big words down, I majored in algorithms. My own dad in the 1980’s at Mutual of Omaha worked with a team to create a Work Management System that focused on office productivity. The success of Wal-Mart and Amazon is based upon algorithms of consumer habits. There are entire sections of military defense that keep our world a safer place based on computer ran algorithms.
The problem with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other bad actors in social media is the refusal to set a moral framework and a clarity of vision. When the sole purpose of the algorithm becomes the building of wealth and the soul and well-being of the person is left out, we get into trouble. This was the struggle that Wal-Mart went through in the early 2000s and are still battling with today. We need to care about people.
Algorithms for Vice
Instagram and TikToks specific algorithm is written for immoderate use which is vice. (Yes, TikTok does have a guy who comes up and tells you to take a break.)
Both Instagram Reels and TikTok have short videos. The algorithm looks at user engagement, namely how long did you watch the video. If I scroll quickly past a video, the algorithm records that it should show less like this. If I watch more of the video, the algorithm records to show me more. It also ties in similar users to my activity and a human programmed understanding of human nature that is quite impressive.
It doesn’t take much imagination to understand that a teenage boy might be more sucked in to watching videos for longer period of time when violent, foul and sexual content is involved.
Content Creators
The consumer of this content is not just a consumer, but also a content creator. There is a desire to go viral, or have you video viewed by thousands of millions of people. If in my above mentioned example, teenage boys are engaged by videos of girls their age and certain activity or dress is getting them more views, girls feel pressured to post such content. Hence, WSJs report shows that girls who use Instagram felt worse about their body image. It is here where the deepest concern comes. The engagement on the app has now influenced the way that children are interacting with each other in the real world. Individuals become content for entertainment.
I use the example of unchastity and modesty. However, any vice could be brought into this. In adults, and especially, I must add in the Catholic communities, uncharity seems to be winning force. Content that pushes conspiracies or paints individuals in the worse possible light get traction. Hence, some of the most popular social media stars in Catholic circles are those with a visceral hatred of Pope Francis and other bishops that are not grounded in reality.
I do not pretend to have a solution to this problem. I just wanted to take a moment with my background and understanding of the technology and situation to break down its scope. Our job in society is to promote virtue, and where this is not done, correction should be made.
