THE SECRET OF
algorithms on social media
DISCUSSION
What content do you see most,
and why do you think the
algorithm shows you that
specific content?
DISCUSSION
Do you notice different content on multiple
accounts on the same platform?
DISCUSSION
What should the role of a
social media site or app be?
DISCUSSION
How do platforms use design
(notifications, video length) to
command your attention?
DISCUSSION
What emotions or reactions do you
often experience on social media,
and do creators intentionally design
for them?
DISCUSSION
Do tech companies have
responsibility for the content their
algorithms promote, especially
extreme or harmful content?
DISCUSSION
What specific actions (likes, shares,
comments) do you take on platforms, and
how do you think algorithms use these
signals?
DISCUSSION
Do you notice different content on multiple
accounts on the same platform?
DISCUSSION
How can content creators use
algorithms to their advantage?
DISCUSSION
Did you know that social media
companies keep track of how
long you view or interact with a
post?
DISCUSSION
Do you think there needs to be more
regulation on social media? Why? Why
not?
VOCABULARY
1. ..... After several meetings, the manager finally determined who was responsible for the mistake.
2. ..... It didn’t bother her at first, but after a while the noise became impossible to ignore.
3. ..... The document was allegedly signed by the director, but no one had actually seen it.
4. ..... He was willing to stay late and help the team finish the project on time.
5. ..... The company followed the same formula for success every year, even though the market was changing.
6. ..... It took the students hours to decipher the handwritten notes from the old manuscript.
7. ..... Stress led to poor sleep, which caused more stress, creating a vicious cycle.
8. ..... The teacher assigned each student a different role in the group project.
a. skłonny do
b. ustalić
c. przydzielić
d. przepis
e. rozszyfrować
f. przeszkadzać
g. błędne koło
h. rzekomo
READING
Social media platforms use algorithms to determine which posts appear in our
feeds. Although companies sometimes show a complex formula, it is often
hard to decipher, and they don’t always explain how it works. According to
leaked documents, posts are ranked based on how likely users are to engage
with them by liking, commenting, or sharing.
Some content is allegedly harmful, yet platforms seem willing to promote it if it
keeps users engaged. Even negative reactions, such as angry comments, don’t
bother the algorithm—in fact, they can increase a post’s visibility. Engineers
assign different values to each type of interaction, and these values influence
what users see next.
This creates a vicious cycle: the more we interact with certain content, the more
similar content appears in our feed. While users cannot control the formula
itself, their actions still shape what the algorithm shows them over time.
LISTENING
Watch the video
[Link]