A new social network is about to see the light of day! Created by the founders of Instagram, Artifact intends to offer a personalized news feed inspired by the algorithmic model of TikTok. An interesting project, but which raises many questions…
The year 2022 has seen the emergence of new social networks like BeReal, the anti-Instagram which advocates authenticity, and Mastodon, where disappointed Twitter users have found refuge. And 2023 could well see a little new one arrive, and not developed by just anyone! Indeed, as reported Platformer, the duo Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the founders of Instagram, are back in the spotlight with a new application, called Artifact – the contraction of “artificial intelligence” (artificial intelligence) and “fact” (fact) . As its name suggests, it is a social network that uses machine learning to provide users with a personalized flow of information, which will consist of major press titles, but also platforms and blogs. more confidential. For this, they were inspired by the mysterious algorithmic model of TikTok, which definitely seems to be a real model of success that everyone wants to emulate – including Instagram, which had drawn the ire of its users because of it. .
Artifact: a social network for reading articles
Concretely, Artifact offers a popular news feed. Simply select an article and the app will suggest similar content, much like TikTok’s “For You” feed and Instagram’s “Explore” feed. The more the user will read articles on the social network, the more the algorithm will offer him content that he will like. On the other hand, unlike the usual social networks, it will not work based on the number of clicks, reactions or comments, but on the time spent reading the content. Two other functions will also be included: a feed of articles posted by followed users – like TikTok’s “Followings” feed, definitely – with comments displayed, and a messaging service so that you can exchange with other users – it does not must not forget the “social” dimension all the same.
Artifact intends to integrate all opinions, left and right, into its press platform, while laying down safeguards to avoid abuses, particularly in terms of misinformation. This is why Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger only want to integrate trusted editors and intend to delete any post that risks publishing fake news or any conspiratorial subject. A very promising principle on paper, but which questions the limits of the Artifact system. Will the principle of popularity feed the famous “click race” that exists in the press? And how do you define “trusted partners”? And how to achieve neutrality when the platform is based on an algorithm? These are all points to which particular attention should be paid.
Artifact’s other unknown lies in its economic model, which has not yet been defined. We can assume that the platform will be financed by advertising, but perhaps also thanks to partnerships with the various publishers, who would give it part of the income generated by traffic from Artifact. At the moment, the application is still under development and is accessible on Android and iOS by invitation only. Everybody can register on the waiting list to access the private beta by entering their mobile number.