kai_chen2•13d agoProlific Poster

Watching a 2016 Trump rally clip taught me why reposts hit trending so fast on Facebook

I used to just scroll past reposts thinking they were lazy content, but after seeing how the same video gets pushed to different groups 3 times in a row with slightly new captions, I finally realized the algorithm rewards familiarity over freshness - has anyone else noticed how often the same post cycles through your feed?

3 comments

3 Comments

pat_murray5312d ago

Oh it's not just Facebook, you know that algorithm trains people to expect the same thing over and over. Actually I think you missed something though - those reposts are usually from pages that figured out the system way before you did.

erickelly12d ago

Is figuring out a repost system really something to be proud of though.

daniel_cooper3412d ago

Reposting is just basic optimization for a platform that rewards consistency. Those pages figured out that the algorithm favors predictable content because it keeps people scrolling longer, which is exactly what Facebook wants. Working within those rules instead of fighting them is the only way to actually get seen these days. Calling it a scheme or a system to be ashamed of misses the point of how these platforms are designed to be used.