Om Malik about content algorithms and the decline in content quality

Great article by Om-Malik: The Tyranny of Content Algorithms.

The current prioritization scheme of content algorithms dictates that engagement comes from posting more frequently or conforming to a certain format. In the long term, this leads to a decline in the quality of work of most creators, who struggle to keep up with the algorithm and sacrifice quality for volume or conformity.

No matter who you are, how skilled you may be, or how much knowledge you possess, excessive activity will inevitably lead to a return to the average. This phenomenon is observable every day on the Internet. Before Instagram became a competition for the lowest common denominator, there were a few photographers I followed. They consistently shared captivating images, always managing to evoke a sense of inspiration with each viewing of their work.

(…)

As the years passed, I noticed them sharing more frequently, yet the quality of their work declined. They gradually transitioned from being exceptional to merely average. I suppose this is what they mean by “regression to the mean.”