See our toots about the #ExploreTimeline and displaying boost counts, which encourage botFarms that game the algorithm, and create feedback loops to get user interactions based on perceived #popularity. We warned of it years ago (see #PopularityModel).
Forced Javascript is an anti-feature. Until about a year ago, Mastodon had basic functionality without Javascript.
So many unseen resources being fetched. Cryptomining at least secures the network.
Something worth learning from #China. Entities that are too popular pose a danger.
Look at people that you are thinking of interacting with if they have more than 3000 followers and only been on fedi since #Nov2022 then it is *very* likely they are using or have used #botFarms to game the #ExploreTimeline, for followers.
This #PopularityModel was abuse on #BigSocialMedia. Since #Nov22 its come to #fediverse.
Limit interactions with them especially if they post images a lot.
Does anyone else think the "Explore" timeline on #Mastodon's implementation goes against what made fediverse so great to begin with?
If not, why?
@demitasse
People don't, largely the purpose of #theMedia attention is to #elevate them, to engineer a perception that theyre interesting and have broad impacts. If people think they're popular, they have power. #popularityModel
We don't believe they're popular, just backed/elevated by moneyPrinters. We ignore 'news' featuring them. If more did we'd be better off.
Step 1) don't use their name. Eg. We say Memecoiner/TwitterBuyer etc. Some say MuskRat, which is hilarious.
We apologise for boosting a turdsite RT. And someone who appears to be abusing the new #PopularityModel as adopted by MastodonDevs.
Reminder: Please don't come on fedi to advertise your #turdSite, people.
Mastodon now betrays #Fediverse ideals by defaulting to an "#Explore" timeline that features popular (read: possibly gamed) toots.
Expect an influx of personas gaming the #PopularityModel, eg. corporates setup say 500 accounts in a #botFarm that post things friendly to their interests, using the other 499 accounts on rotation to Boost and Like the toot so it seems popular.
We saw this coming when #Mastodon started showing Like totals without opening the toot.
We suggest to #ForkMastodon asap!
Report finds that almost half of the #celebrity's #turdsite followers are fake.
Try 80%.
This is why we say #MastodonApp should **not** show the #popularity of #toots until the user opens them.
#darkPatterns #popularityModel #spam #spamAccounts #abuse #bots #botAccounts #influencerModel #herdMentality #confirmationBias
Hi Joel,
We think this quote by you was most salient, validating suspicions expressed on Fedi almost a year ago that #Mastodon is being coopted to serve the #PopularityModel and #influencers with access to #botFarms:
> the "spirit of mastodon" is also to not show boosts and favorites until a toot is fully opened to discourage mob mentality and such, and yet the official app has those... It looks like a Twitter client
It ought to be fixed, asap.
@strypey
This is why #MastodonApp, pushing the display of the numbers was not only predicted by us last year, but we actively warned people about it.
Showing numbers *is* a (#)darkPattern. Wastes resources and creates (#)perverseIncentives. We are not going to hashtag because we just did a few days ago.
We've seen a lot of "let's appease #Fakebook users by just X", lately.
We see it as a sign of success and corruption at the same time.
We sense a dangerous time for #Fedi is approaching. They will try to introduce the gameable "#PopularityModel" into the code so abused by #inflencers and we will need to fight this 'tooth and claw'.
Be prepared to and/or resist forks, #Fedifolk.
Our (#)FediFlyer svg file allows anyone to produce a #FediBugBounty. Let's get eyeballs on code NOW!
Print em!
