Skip to main content


Our new For You algorithm is pretty complex, so we created this infographic to make it easier to understand!

#Loops #ForYou #TikTok #EthicalAlgorithms

reshared this

in reply to loops

Big props for trying to explain how it works rather than treating that as some kind of intentionally-obscured secret.
in reply to loops

🙁 please try harder with the alt text next time. lots of effort clearly went into this graphic
in reply to d@nny disc@ mc²

I'm not even sure how you'd do a complex flowchart type diagram justice with alt text. It seems like you'd really want a textual write-up of the concepts, but that's a much bigger task than alt-text for an image.

I guess you could just copy all the text, label each block with numbers, and write down a list of arrows between nodes. But that doesn't sound all that easy to read..

in reply to Cassandrich

A textual write up of the concepts is basically exactly what you'd want, and is something that will benefit a lot more people than just folks who normally check alt text
in reply to lee

Yeah totally.

In any case, no need to police the alt text.

And... I think the alt text has been updated anyway!

in reply to Cassandrich

they're trying to be professional and have a broad audience, i fully will critique their alt text
in reply to Cassandrich

i don’t think politely asking one of the biggest presences on fedi to make their alt text useful comes anywhere close to “policing”
in reply to Cassandrich

personally consider this to be a rare bad take from you rich. i actually complimented the graphic, for the same reasons you did. you're right that i didn't explain how to improve the alt text, because i'm not really familiar with the most effective way to do so. but this gave lee an opportunity to educate
in reply to d@nny disc@ mc²

Fair enough. My gut reaction to alt text criticism is just "oh no not more fedi HOA stuff", especially when alt text is there but just isn't good enough. But it's reasonable to expect more effort from folks building the fedi vs just normal users.
in reply to lee

In documentation I'd generally suggest a full write up below the chart, and alt text that refers to the write-up
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to d@nny disc@ mc²

@hipsterelectron@circumstances.run We updated the alt text with a better description:

How the Loops For You Algorithm works, it visualizes how the platform selects videos for users when using the For You feed.

It shows a flowchart starting from a user request, branching based on whether the user is new (receiving a "Popular & Discovery Focus") or returning (receiving a "Personalized Focus"). Three content sources—Personalized, Popular, and Discovery streams—are filtered for hidden creators or already-seen content and fed into a central Scoring & Ranking Engine chip icon. Below this engine, a pie chart details the scoring weights: Engagement (35%), Personalization (30%), Freshness (25%), and Creator Quality (10%). The engine outputs the final "Ranked 'For You' Feed." A feedback loop shows user actions updating interest data for future recommendations. A prominent section in the bottom right emphasizes User Control with a trash can icon, stating users can "Clear Recommendation Data at Any Time (Resets Interests & Hidden Creators).

in reply to loops

I just installed the new version after not using loops for nearly a year and I can't seem to figure out how to post a video. I'm guessing it might be on the camera tab at the bottom but that whole tab is disabled saying I need to grant camera permission which I don't want to do (and shouldn't need to in order to post a video that's already on my phone).
in reply to loops

Do you think ActivityRank as written, might apply to other ActivtyPub offerings too?
in reply to Tim Chambers

Yes, though for Mastodon, it would involve tracking which toots you’ve already seen so they don’t appear again.