Algorithm discussion goes viral

A topic focusing on algorithm has hit the top search list on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo on Sunday since senior executives from Chinese internet giants expressed to improve the algorithms to provide clean cyber environment and meaningful products.

Senior executives from internet giants, such as Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com, Sina Weibo, Meituan and short video platforms Kuaishou and Douyin, shared their views on algorithm at a sub-event of the China Internet Media Forum that kicked off Sunday in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

They have also expressed the promises to strengthen algorithm security, to build a transparent and trustworthy digital ecosystem, and to create a diverse and beautiful online community at the sub-event themed with "adhering to mainstream value orientation and promoting algorithm improvement."

Online users have complained most of the information cocooning and big data-enabled price discrimination against existing customers due to the algorithms. Other problems also existed, such as risks of personal information leaks, weakening of data security, "black box" algorithms, the widening digital divide and "data poisoning".

Many Weibo users have shared comments, highlighting the sub-event's significant role in fostering a healthier and more positive online community. They also expressed hope that the companies would work to improve their algorithms. Computing technology should serve the people, not trouble them, they said.

Weibo user Huoxingshangdexiaomuwu commented that "Personally, I prefer to be recommended for news on national events rather than entertainment news." "I will actively search for the news of entertainment stars I like, and I don't want the platform to speculate that I may like stars in a certain field that I don't like".

Another Weibo user SILENCEMOV, said that the platforms should retrain the traffic of marketing accounts because their texts are rhetorical.