EU's internet users are now enjoying algorithm-free browsing. This is thanks to the Digital Services Act (DSA). Now, here's why being able to turn off personalized content matters for social media consumers.
EU Internet Users Now Enjoy Algorithm-Free Browsing
According to Tech Crunch's latest report, internet users in the EU countries are now able to say no to personalized online feeds.
They can easily decline algorithm-based content by turning off personalized feeds on their social media accounts.
Thanks to DSA, EU internet consumers can switch to a more comfortable news feed that will show posts from their friends, which are displayed in chronological order.
Some online users even shared their experiences after turning off their personalized social media feeds.
One of them is Twitter user Natasha, who said that the non-personalized Instagram feed looks like it will be great news for architecture and landscape posts.
Based on the screenshot she provided, the Instagram feed that doesn't use an algorithm shows random posts that are not based on the users' behavior and activity history.
Instagram is just one of the social media platforms affected by the Digital Services Act. EuroNews reported that a total of 19 platforms are covered by DSA as of writing.
These include Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, etc. Five online marketplaces are also impacted, such as Alibaba, AliExpress, and Amazon.
Why Free-Algorithm Online Feed Matters
For some individuals, being able to turn off personalized social media feeds is not really a big deal.
However, experts said that having an algorithm-free online feed really matters. For those who are not aware, social media and other online companies provide personalized content by tracking user data.
They can track what you click at, linger on, search for, engage with, and do other things you do online. After that, they will show you content that you are commonly searching for, looking at, or engaging with.
For example, if you like a cat video, Facebook and other social media platforms will show you related videos and other content.
This can last for days and months, which is really quite annoying for many users. Aside from this, online companies can also use their data tracking activity from personalized feeds to show targeted ads.
Another problem with personalized feed is that it concerns users who value their online privacy. These are just some of the issues that internet users complain about regarding algorithm-based online feeds.
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