Episode Summary

Everyone blames “the algorithm.” But almost nobody can explain what it actually is.

In this episode of Seriously Sus, we look into one of the internet’s biggest mysteries. Is there really one algorithm deciding what everyone sees? Are social media companies manipulating us? Is your phone secretly listening to you? And why does outrage seem to spread so much faster than everything else?

We break down how recommendation systems work, why everyone’s feed is completely different, how content goes viral, what shadow banning really means, and why every click, pause, like, and share helps teach these systems what to show next.

By the end, you’ll probably stop asking, “Why does the algorithm hate me?” and start asking a much more interesting question.

What am I teaching it?