Electric Dreams
Does Anyone Actually Know What an Algorithm Is?
And why is everyone trying to beat it?
If you read any story on Medium these days, the word ALGORITHM will pop up as frequently as the word SOBRIETY.
Something like: “Beat the Algorithm! Smash the System!” As though we’re all involved in some covert war against the internet.
For many Medium users, figuring out the algorithm seems to be of extreme importance.
- A way to earn more money.
- A way to increase views.
But here’s the thing: how can you “beat” the algorithm if you don’t know what the algorithm is?
What is an Algorithm?
An algorithm is not a formula. A formula is this: A = B + C.
The formula for a cake is:
Flour (F)+ Sugar (S)+ Egg (E)= Cake (C)
In essence, a list of ingredients. But it’s not a recipe. This is a recipe.
Take 2 cups of flour, 2 eggs, a cup of sugar, mix together. Bake in the oven.
A set of steps to reach a desired goal. This is an algorithm.
Euclidean Algorithm
One of the first algorithms was the Euclidean algorithm devised in 300 BC for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers.
Take two numbers: 5 and 10. What’s the highest possible number that divides them perfectly. You can do it in your head. It’s 5.
Or we can use Euclid’s Algorithm.
Don’t worry about the detail — it’s not important. The point is, it’s a method to get to an endpoint. Just like a recipe. And for a lot of Medium writers, it’s a recipe for disaster.
Beating The System
In my youth, I used to claim unemployment benefit while working on the side. I got my apartment paid for, I didn't pay tax, and got a range of free government services. We all did it, and it was fun seeing how much we could get away with.
We never saved any money, as it all went back into the system via the pub. But for a while, it felt like we were “beating the system”, even though we were actually part of it.
So when people say they are beating the algorithm, they’re not. They’re simply submitting to a required set of goals laid down by the company/government/social media site.
And when you’ve completed those goals (written 100 self-help pieces) you’ll get another set of tasks to do — another 100 self-help pieces. And if you don’t complete them, you’ll be fired or dropped, and your earnings diminished. So you keep doing your job.
Guess Work
The herd mentality of human beings is quite staggering. One person tweets “Medium wants articles on rabbits” and within days the site is flooded with a thousand articles on rabbits on a hundred new publications entitled: Bunny Magic or Coney Island.
But get this!
What the algorithm really wanted were articles on “Habits.” Except there was a typo. So all the folk who wrote articles on Habits became millionaires overnight. While everyone else was still churning out articles on small mammals with big ears, wondering why their earnings were so low.
I’m joking (a bit). But the whole beating the algo, beating the system is exasperating. You can’t beat the algorithm and it’s absurd to think you can. They hold all the cards. They’ve got the King, Queen & Ace. While you’re holding a couple of Twos!
Even if Medium said, “We want articles on rabbits this week”. Only an idiot would start writing about it. Within hours, the entire platform would be teeming with rabbits— maybe literally! — and you’ll be picking up $0.23 for your wasted efforts.
This is why predicting the algorithm is so foolish. You’ve no idea what it is. SO WHY BOTHER. It’s like looking at a croissant and trying to guess how to make one.
The formula is very simple:
Flour + Butter = Croissant
But the algorithm is a hell of a lot more complex. Trust me, I’ve tried it…
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