Developer creates endless Wikipedia feed to fight algorithm addiction
WikiTok cures boredom in spare moments with wholesome swipe-up Wikipedia article discovery.
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Does it have an algorithm of some kind?
I usually hate them but for something safe like wikipedia i would love to have it tailored to my interests.
Apparently not:
"I have had plenty of people message me and even make issues on my GitHub asking for some insane crazy WikiTok algorithm," Gemal told Ars. "And I had to put my foot down and say something along the lines that we're already ruled by ruthless, opaque algorithms in our everyday life; why can't we just have one little corner in the world without them?"
I understand their stance but it is a bit sad because if i could tailor it to my interests i absolutely would use it all the time.
Wikipedia is massive there is way more that i don't want to read then there is that i do.
Personally i think there is roam for a “not insane, Fully transparent and user controlled” algorithm but also that would take a lot of developer effort.
Are you asking if the app made specifically without an algorithm has an algorithm?
Its not presented as being specifically made without.
There is plenty of room for more ethical algorithms and to get technical. It definitely does have a algorithm.
A very basic formula that simulates randomness to pick one Wikipedia page after the other.
I just wish i could customize that to my interests. So for example it favors articles tagged as ancient mythology and minimizes politicians from the 90s
Its not presented as being specifically made without? Wat
Developer creates endless Wikipedia feed to fight algorithm addiction
and spend spare moments of boredom without reaching for an algorithmically addictive social media app.
without an invasive algorithm tracking you and pushing you toward the lowest-common-denominator content.
Gemal is currently resisting calls to automatically tailor the stream of articles to the user's interests based on what they express interest in.
"I have had plenty of people message me and even make issues on my GitHub asking for some insane crazy WikiTok algorithm," Gemal told Ars. "And I had to put my foot down and say something along the lines that we're already ruled by ruthless, opaque algorithms in our everyday life; why can't we just have one little corner in the world without them?"
"I have no grand plans for some sort of insane monetized hyper-calculating TikTok algorithm," Gemal told us. "It is anti-algorithmic, if anything."
Ill just repeat that last line again for you:
"It is anti-algorithmic, if anything."
The code is on github, go for it.
Also, read the article for once. Jesus.
There is no need to communicate like this. I actually had already learned about this app and checked it out yesterday on a different community with way less people and there was no article there. I just saw the opportunity of this post as way to discuss it.
I like to make a few things clear that seem to cause confusion.
