Sorry Elon, ‘Open Source’ Algorithms Won’t Improve Twitter
On the contrary, revealing the platform’s code could expose the average user to more junk tweets, lies and offensive language.
One change he has in mind might not make everyone happier.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty ImagesCommenting on his own quest to take over Twitter, Elon Musk has suggested he might share with the public the code that determines what content gets promoted on the platform and what gets suppressed. That may sound exciting and it might well increase profit for Twitter, but average users will probably find it makes their experience worse.
To be clear, Twitter’s design is what mostly determines its user experience and culture — that is, the broad selection of tweets you are most likely to see (for example, those from people you follow) and the ones you’re unlikely to see (for example, those from people who follow you).