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How to tame your feed

Burning Platforms Podcast

Peter Lewis Sep 24, 2026

Cuts and curios from our discussion with Dr Agata Stepnik from Sydney University on how people can train their algorithms to get a better online experience.

It was great getting a sense of the deep ethnographic research Agata has undertaken and the links between digital literacy and digital empowerment. What I took away from the conversation was a sense that the algorithms that drive our feeds are not just code, they have a shape and form that evolves based on our interactions. While I would put myself in an ‘algorithms are bad’ camp, I find more people I speak with saying they like their algorithm, it makes their life easier, they just want it to do its work without all the slop and noise. This is where the business models behind the social media platforms come in and left to their own devices, will serve copy to maximise time on screen through extreme content. Counteracting that with hacks like conscious engagement could change our online experiences for the better.

To listen to the full program click here.

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