Facebook News Feed Algorithm Tests: What You Need to Know

Facebook Announces News Feed Algorithm Tests

Following scrutiny from legislators regarding its role in events surrounding the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Facebook has revealed plans to implement a series of tests concerning its News Feed ranking algorithms. These tests will solicit user feedback on the content displayed, with the intention of integrating this input into the News Feed’s ranking processes.

Gathering User Insights

Facebook intends to determine what types of content users find inspirational, what content they prefer to see less of – such as political posts – and their broader topical interests. This information will be crucial in refining the user experience.

One test will involve a survey presented directly beneath posts, asking users to rate the level of inspiration they derived from the content. The aim is to prioritize and showcase more inspirational posts higher in the News Feed.

Reflecting User Preferences

Currently, Facebook prioritizes content from friends, Groups, and followed Pages. However, the platform utilizes algorithms to determine which posts are shown and when, based on various signals.

These signals include both implicit factors – such as engagement levels – and explicit indicators, like designating certain connections as “Close Friends” or “Favorites.”

Despite these features, disconnects can arise between online interactions and real-life relationships. Differing viewpoints expressed on Facebook have, in some instances, strained personal connections.

The platform has struggled to address this issue, with News Feeds often reinforcing existing beliefs, even if those beliefs are problematic. This can lead to users inhabiting filter bubbles or even encountering entirely alternate realities fueled by misinformation.

Topic-Based Feedback

A third test will focus on gathering feedback regarding users’ desired content. Facebook will ask individuals whether they wish to see more or fewer posts related to specific topics, including Cooking, Sports, and Politics.

The aggregated user feedback will then be used to adjust the algorithms, increasing the visibility of preferred content and reducing the prominence of unwanted topics.

Addressing Political Content

Political content has been a particular area of concern for Facebook. The network has faced criticism for allegedly amplifying political polarization, spreading misinformation, and incentivizing divisive clickbait.

Certain outlets, presenting themselves as news sources, have benefited from these algorithms, often prioritizing bias over factual reporting.

Following the Capitol attack, Facebook announced temporary tests to reduce the visibility of political content for a limited group of users in several countries.

The company now aims to better understand the relationship between content and negative News Feed experiences, including those related to political posts. Surveys will be used to identify content users wish to see less of.

Enhanced Control Options

Facebook will also make the option to hide irrelevant, problematic, or irritating posts more prominent. A new “X” button in the upper-right corner of posts will allow users in test groups to easily hide content and see less of similar posts in the future.

While allowing users to select topics may not fully resolve issues with negative posts or misinformation, this test is primarily focused on improving the overall “feel” of the News Feed.

Data Integration and Future Development

The data collected from these tests will be integrated into Facebook’s News Feed ranking algorithms. The extent to which these adjustments will be implemented globally versus customized for individual users remains unclear.

The survey data will be gathered from a small percentage of users within test groups and used to train a machine learning model.

Facebook is also exploring ways to provide users with more direct control over the content they encounter on their News Feeds.

These tests are scheduled to run over the coming months.