Optimizing the Algorithm
Plus, A Worldwide Tech Meltdown, College Football, and Male Loneliness
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Optimizing the Algorithm
Across YouTube, Instagram, X, TikTok, and even SEO search, there is an overwhelming craze to optimize for algorithms rather than create quality content. Why? In today's internet, quality content will not get the same engagement metrics as content created solely for achieving likes, views, and comments. As social media evolved and became a hub to make money, the obsession with optimizing for algorithms became evident. The preferences of social media algorithms are not difficult to find, and once someone discovers how to hack these preferences, the lowest quality, mediocre, and superficial content will be created. This content, known as slop, will receive tremendous amounts positive feedback as it was made for the algorithm. There is a glut of 'internet slop' across the digital landscape, and there doesn't seem to be a way of reversing this.
Internet slop refers to the deluge of low-quality, high-volume content designed specifically to game social media algorithms. These algorithms on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X reward engagement metrics such as views, likes, and shares. Consequently, creators often prioritize producing content that caters to these metrics rather than focusing on quality or originality.
The relentless pursuit of algorithmic favor has fundamentally altered the digital landscape. Content creators, driven by the promise of viral fame and money, often sacrifice creativity and depth for superficial engagement. The result is a digital ecosystem saturated with content that, while popular, often lacks substance.
I think there is a big opportunity to create something new for the internet and believe now is the right time. Optimizing the algorithm has ruined the internet.
One of the most interesting phenomena that has arisen as a result of optimizing for algorithms is the 'Get Rich Quick' economy, which has led to the rise of Financial and Business 'Gurus.' These Gurus are generally sleazy salespeople who use content and storytelling to persuade people how easy it is to make $10,000 a month. They use the content to funnel people into paid discords and/or sell digital courses. These courses are sold for thousands of dollars. Any rational person would immediately think, "If you are so rich, why do you need to sell a course? Why would you share your money-making secrets?" The sad part is, thousands of people fall for this and end up getting scammed.
This type of behavior is not new and has been around for decades. However, social media and ubiquitous access to media have amplified its reach and impact. The digital platforms, designed to maximize user engagement, inadvertently provide fertile ground for these dubious schemes.
The allure of the 'Get Rich Quick' scheme taps into the human desire for minimal effort (i.e. the easy way out). At its core, this phenomenon is driven by the basic human tendency towards instant gratification. People naturally gravitate towards opportunities that promise rapid results, especially in a world where success is often equated with material wealth and social status. The digital age, with its promise of overnight fame and fortune, exacerbates this tendency, making the idea of getting rich quickly even more enticing. Digital media, with its constant stream of success stories and curated lifestyles, amplifies this desire. Social media platforms bombard users with images of luxury and success, creating a pervasive culture of comparison and aspiration. The ease of sharing and consuming content makes it simple for these 'Gurus' to reach a wide audience and exploit their vulnerabilities.
Tech
Crowdstrike Strikes Out (WSJ)
A software update from CrowdStrike on Friday morning caused a massive global tech outage, grounding nearly all flights and disrupting operations for banks, media companies, and emergency services. The ripple effects extended to Microsoft devices in healthcare, education, and finance sectors, highlighting how dependent our systems are on a handful of key technologies. This incident underscores the critical vulnerability in our digital infrastructure. While CrowdStrikeâs security benefits are numerous, the glitch revealed how a single point of failure can disrupt the global economy. The number of attack vectors that can cause real pain, whether accidental or targeted, is extremely high and will continue to grow.
Media
The College Football Hype is Real (Index-Journal)
After more than a decade of waiting, NCAA Football video games are back. Traditionally released annually until 2013, the franchise was put on pause when athletes started questioning why they werenât paid. Today, NCAA 2025 has officially launched. EA opted for a tiered release schedule, allowing users to pay more for earlier access, and Mondayâs release crashed EA servers with over 700,000 users playing online. Considering the early access price of $125, EA made no less than $90 million on Monday alone. This figure only accounts for online players; countless others likely played head-to-head offline. Video games have never been more popular, and titles like NCAA bring back retired gamers. It will be interesting to see how Take-Two Interactive decides to market and roll out the highly anticipated game, GTA VI.
Culture
Crisis Facing Young American Men (Scott Galloway)
Professor Scott Galloway has written and spoken extensively about the obstaclesâfinancial, social, educational, and so onâthat young men face. For instance, 36% of men between the ages of 18-34 live with their parents, 15% of men state they have no close friends, and 18% of men donât graduate from high school. A significant portion of the population has become so disillusioned by society that they see no path to a meaningful life. Last Saturday, we saw one of these young American men in crisis almost change the course of history. Classmates of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot President Trump, said he was mocked as a freshman for his dorky Spongebob T-shirt and poor hygiene. âThose other kids would always say, âHey, look at the school shooter over there!ââ one classmate recalled. We all know someone who fits this profile. Mass shootings, for the most part, are a result of mental and social health issues. An interesting early-stage company, Meeno, is iterating quickly and is positioning itself as a tool for younger individuals, primarily men, to improve their social health.
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