this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2023
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Technology

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[–] Hellebert@beehaw.org 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Tried the official Reddit app today and boy people weren't joking when they say it sucks. I thought it'd just be the usual experience plus some ads but I was totally wrong.

The official app doesn't respect your subreddit subscriptions at all, instead force feeding you feeds of whatever their algorithm thinks will drive maximum engagement just like a shit version of Facebook. The "hot" etc functionality is completely stipped from it entirely.

Guess I'm here to stay on the fediverse now.

[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@beehaw.org 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (6 children)

What absolutely sucks about this is that I had carefully curated my subscriptions on RIF in order not to exacerbate my dumb mental health issues.

Hell, I've read angry posts about people in recovery from addiction and alcohol saying how they keep seeing ads for beer or gambling and things like that.

It's horrifying!!

[–] Spzi@lemmy.click 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

people in recovery from addiction and alcohol saying how they keep seeing ads for beer or gambling

Not that this is how it works, but I imagine a diligent algorithm looking at those individuals and that content, and then thinking "mhhmm this will generate maximum revenue!!".

[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I think that's absolutely how it works (in part). Ads curated toward your demographic! Maybe it's not inherently purposeful, but it's harmful, nonetheless.

In a subr×ddit about alcohol recovery? "Our algorithm detected that your post history contains the word "alcohol" or "beer" a lot! We will tailor your ads to cater to your interests for maximum profits!" Boom. There you go.

It takes the human aspect out of the community and drives it to become harmful at worst and soulless at best.

[–] Hellebert@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

Me too. I suffer from PTSD myself so I avoid things like the war coverage in Ukraine. The app is full of it and I can't filter it fully like I can in RIF.

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[–] Dan_Rachevaski@beehaw.org 4 points 2 years ago

you don't mention the copious, copious amounts of ads and sponsored contents

wow thanks reddit, you are more and more Facebook-like now, congratulations.