Technology

How Social Media Algorithms Actually Work

Explore the mechanics behind the algorithms that curate the content on your social media feed, uncover their underlying science, and understand their impact on online behavior and digital marketing strategies.

First episode free — Listen now, no account required

7 episodes46 min total

What you'll learn

Course outline

Episode 1: The recommendation problem

Discover the core challenges that social media platforms face in delivering personalized content and why these problems are central to the platform's success.

Episode 2: Collaborative filtering explained

Learn the ins and outs of collaborative filtering, a common technique used by recommendation systems to predict what users will enjoy based on their and others' preferenc...

Episode 3: The engagement metric trap

Unpack the obsession with engagement metrics, how they drive platform growth, and the potential pitfalls they create both for content creators and users.

Episode 4: How TikTok actually works

Dive into the mechanisms behind TikTok's highly successful algorithm and how it keeps users scrolling by making savvy predictions about what they want to see next.

Episode 5: YouTube's algorithm secrets

Explore the intricacies of YouTube's recommendation system, focusing on how it prioritizes content to ensure prolonged user engagement and maximize watchtime.

See all 7 episodes

First episode free — Listen now, no account required

Episodes

Ep 1Free

The recommendation problem

Discover the core challenges that social media platforms face in delivering personalized content and why these problems are central to the platform's...

6:22

Enjoying your trial?

Subscribe to unlock all 7 episodes — just $1.99/month

Subscribe now

Ep 2

Collaborative filtering explained

Learn the ins and outs of collaborative filtering, a common technique used by recommendation systems to predict what users will enjoy based on their a...