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As lawsuits mount and legislation aimed at mitigating social media harms proliferates, the battle over how algorithmic recommender systems should be designed is heating up. A new report “Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First” proposes guidelines to help mitigate algorithmic harms, which, if adopted, could meaningfully improve the online experiences of youth and adult users alike.

Lack of competition in social media has allowed dominant platforms to design algorithms to maximize for user engagement without concern for user experience, which may produce feelings of negativity and partisanship among users. There exist alternative algorithmic designs that optimize for both engagement and user experience, and regulation may be necessary to promote these different approaches.

KGI released a major new report providing detailed guidance for policymakers and technology companies on improving the design of the algorithmic recommendation systems that shape billions of users’ online experiences. The report, Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First, was authored by a distinguished group of researchers, technologists, and policy leaders.

It’s clear that one of the most significant tech stories of the year was the outcome of the Google search antitrust case. It will also make headlines next year and beyond as the remedies phase gets worked out in the courts. For this podcast episode, Tech Policy Press turned the host duties over to someone who has looked closely at this issue: Alissa Cooper, the Executive Director of the Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI).

The decision in US v. Google is remarkable for how it uses insights from behavioral economics to analyze the effects of Google’s exclusive default agreements on competition.

The decision in US v. Google is remarkable for how it uses insights from behavioral economics to analyze the effects of Google’s exclusive default agreements on competition.

In this podcast episode, Tech Policy Press crashed a KGI-hosted funeral… for CrowdTangle, a piece of software that allowed journalists and independent researchers to get insights into social media.

In August 2024 KGI welcomed Peter Chapman as Associate Director. Peter works across KGI’s areas of focus and supports KGI as a growing organization.

In August 2024 KGI welcomed Beau Rowland as Operations Manager. They work to support the Knight-Georgetown Institute (KGI), the Center for Digital Ethics, and the Institute for Technology Law & Policy.

In July 2024 KGI welcomed Zander Arnao as KGI’s first Policy Analyst. At KGI, Arnao uses his expertise to synthesize research, create translational products for policymakers, and build bridges between researchers and those making decisions about information and technology.

A thought leader at the forefront of tech policy, privacy, standards and regulation, Cooper brings the depth of insight and experience needed to guide this new institute.