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| Facebook is trying to imitate Tik Tok by changing its algorithm |
Facebook's obsession with controlling the social media platform may lead to the release of more harmful content to users.
A new detailed report proves that the company is looking more and more like TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
According to a leaked memo, Facebook's new search engine algorithmically shares more content with users outside the accounts and pages they follow.
It's a departure from the platform's attempt to focus on content shared by friends and family. "Social media platforms are changing and they need search engines that help people find and enjoy great content, whether it's produced by people connected to them or not," Facebook said in the leaked memo.
It must remain relevant
Documents submitted by companies show that they want to focus on connecting people. New features help people connect through shared identities or interests.
The main app has stories and scripts at the top of the page. Here are the suggested posts on Facebook and Instagram by the Discovery Engine.
The group has been renamed to Community. The site is more focused on motivating young users to take advantage of the platform's short video content.
These proposed changes overhaul the entire platform feed system, which was originally changed in 2018. This also means that the Messenger platform will be integrated back into Facebook to appear in the top right corner of the app.
This is a confirmation of sharing content based on posts that appear in the new feed. As Mark Zuckerberg claimed later that same year, the two apps were originally split up in 2014 to allow for faster messaging.
Reels is integrated with the Facebook and Instagram Meta platforms to deliver shorter videos in user feeds, an essential part of the movement.
The platform is offering money to content creators in hopes of keeping people out of their TikTok streams. But the company realized that in its current form it could not be as addictive as its biggest social competitor.
In the note's FAQ, one of the previous priorities for minimizing negative experiences was replaced with things like making the reels work.
What does this massive overhaul of Facebook's algorithm mean?
Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in 2018 because he wanted the platform to allow friends and family to share holiday photos. But that appears to have largely failed.
Facebook executives rarely speak to the media. But Facebook CEO Tom Allison said the stories have overshadowed attempts to approach certain parts of Facebook as a primary way to interact positively.
"We strive to provide you with the best content that matches your interests and makes it easy for you to share, chat and connect with others in your network," he said.
Leaked Facebook documents show how the company's system categorizes content in users' news feeds to increase the time users spend on the platform, leading employees to fear it could damage relationships or help spread misinformation.
The company has stopped recommending political groups to users based on their preferences. Allison said the goal is to provide a cleaner, more user-friendly experience.
But Facebook's renewed focus on AI-based algorithms for people's feeds feels like a step backwards when its main inspiration fails to filter out harmful content.
Facebook is increasingly looking to Tik Tok with the advent of the platform. TikTok sales have increased and become one of the most popular platforms in the world.