The social media behemoth, Meta, is striving to demystify the complexities of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. The company is rolling out explanatory content on how its recommendation engine operates across various platforms. A new feature, “Why am I seeing this?” will be introduced on Instagram, Facebook Reels, and Instagram's Explore page. This initiative is part of Meta’s endeavor to increase the transparency of their AI systems, firmly placing the control back in the user's hands.
In an effort to make user interactions with content more personalized, Meta is testing a new "Interested" marking system for Instagram. This system allows users to indicate their preference for similar content. In contrast, users already have the option to tap "Not Interested" on a post to filter out similar content. Much-needed changes are also being applied to Facebook's “Show more, Show less” controls to make them more noticeable and user-friendly.
Complementing these changes, Meta is releasing 22 “System Cards,” comprehensive guides explaining various systems like Facebook Feed recommendations, Facebook Group timelines, Instagram Reels recommendations, and more. While the complexity of these cards may prove challenging for an average user to grasp, Meta's intent is clear: to give users a deeper understanding of the AI systems shaping their interactions across Meta's platforms.
The company has also delicately tackled the issue of signals – user actions like liking or sharing a post – that influence recommendation algorithms. Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, stated that while some information about these signals is being disclosed in the Transparency Center, certain details have been purposefully omitted to prevent circumvention of their safety defenses. On a related note, Meta is exploring the development of larger AI models to enhance data insights about users.
In conclusion, Meta’s push for greater transparency is commendable amidst increasing scrutiny on social media algorithms. As Meta continues its march towards more AI-powered content, these explanations and controls will likely alleviate some concerns amongst regulators and privacy advocates. It remains to be seen how effective these changes will be and whether other social media giants will follow suit. Nevertheless, Meta's efforts to balance the scales of power between the company and its users herald a promising future in the realm of social media.