We all know that algorithmic social media feeds are the devil, right? They're the source of so much discontent when it comes to our online experience. We've been told this time and time again by our friends and even by some experts.

But is that really the truth? In this article, we're going to look at some reasons algorithmic social media feeds can be good.

1. They Help You See More Of What You're Interested In

One of the main advantages of algorithmic social media feeds is that you're more likely to see content that you're actually interested in. This is because social media algorithms are designed to show you content based on your past interactions and behavior.

If you've been interacting with a lot of posts about cats, then the algorithm will assume that you're interested in seeing more cat-related content. Content that you like and watch on TikTok will determine how the app figures out your preferences on TikTok's For You Page.

This ensures that you're always seeing content that you actually want to see. After all, isn't that the whole point of social media? To connect us with the things we're interested in?

2. They Help Filter Out The Noise

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Another advantage of algorithmic social media feeds is that they can help filter out the noise. We all have that one friend who seems to post about every little thing they do throughout the day. And while their posts might be interesting to them, they're probably not all that interesting to you.

With an algorithm in place, you're less likely to see those types of posts in your feed. Instead, you'll only see the posts that the algorithm thinks you'll find interesting.

3. They Help You Discover New Things

Algorithmic social media feeds can also help you discover new things. While you might not be interested in every single post that shows up in your feed, the algorithm will expose you to a variety of different topics and ideas. And who knows? You might just find something that you're interested in.

Consider TikTok again. The algorithm has been updated to avoid repetitive recommendations on TikTok. It's full of videos that you might not have seen otherwise. And while some of them might not be to your taste, there's a good chance that you'll find always find videos that you enjoy watching.

4. They Make Social Media More Personalized

Another advantage of algorithmic social media feeds is that they make the social media experience more personalized. In a world where we're constantly bombarded with content, it's nice to have a feed that's tailored for you.

And that's exactly what an algorithm can do. It can take all the content that's out there and curate a feed that's just for you.

5. They Keep Users Online Long Enough to Make Money

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Image Credit: Antlii/Shutterstock

Finally, algorithmic social media feeds are good for business. Social media platforms make money by keeping users online, and algorithms help to do just that. The longer you spend scrolling through your feed, the more likely you are to see ads. And that's how most social media platforms make money.

While this may not be the most altruistic reason, it's still a valid one. After all, social media platforms need to make money somehow.

Balancing The Pros And Cons

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to algorithmic social media feeds. For example, they can make it difficult to see content from people who you don't interact with often. And they can also lead to echo chambers, where you only see content that agrees with your worldview.

But at the end of the day, you have to balance the pros and cons. And when you do that, you might just find that the pros outweigh the cons. After all, algorithmic social media feeds are designed to improve your experience. And in most cases, they succeed.