Algorithms have taken on an almost mythical significance in the modern world. They determine what you see on social media and when browsing online, help form people’s belief systems, and impact the ...

Most of us spend a lot of time on social media. Scrolling when we wake up. Scrolling again just before bed. And at some point, almost everyone asks the same question. Why doesn’t my feed feel anything ...

Have you ever wondered why certain posts always appear at the top of your Instagram or Facebook feed while others seem to vanish into oblivion? The truth lies in powerful, ever-evolving algorithms ...

As social media platforms increasingly rely on algorithms to moderate content, online communities are changing how they speak to evade their censors. Sensitive or suggestive topics such as suicide and ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Imagine a town with two widget merchants. Customers prefer cheaper widgets, so the merchants must compete to set the lowest price.