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Yes, Nick, There Is an Algorithm, and It Knows When You’re Awake

Bob Deakin

Algorithms and Cookies Series Part III


Yes, Nick, there is an Algorithm, and it knows when you're awake. My friend Nick complained the other day that after shopping for hats, he was overwhelmed with corresponding ads and social feeds.


“I bought a few hats online now needless to say my feed is wall-to-wall ads for hats t-shirts and other crap like that,” he posted on his Facebook page.


Undoubtedly, he is one of many, but more apt to publicly complain. No offense, Nick, but if you feed birds in your yard, guess who’s coming back for more?


Yes, Nick, there is an Algorithm, and it knows when you’re awake

They See You When You’re Sleeping


It is inherently disturbing when online sources use algorithms and cookies to gather information and compare your online activity with others. Particularly if you’re not used to it, like Nick. But, it’s legal. Is it invasive? No more so than commercials that play at twice the volume as the content. 


Realize too, Nick, that Google and social media algorithms improve user engagement and create a more astute user experience. Without it, these platforms would overwhelm you with information unrelated to anything you had an interest in.


A Friend is Someone to Share the Last Cookie With

“A Friend is Someone to Share the Last Cookie With”

Cookie Monster


If you’re online, you’re looking for something or someone, so choose your friends wisely.


Instagram lets you customize your feed by hiding posts, filtering comments, or selecting “Not interested” to customize content. Its algorithms are divided into five sections: Feed, Stories, Explore, Reels, and Search.


Facebook allows you to select up to 30 people or sources to put in your feed. You can also “snooze” a person or page for 30 days. This feature comes in handy in election years, when friends become political scientists. It was also a nerve soother during the COVID-19 outbreak, when friends became infectious disease experts. 


I bet Nick is snoozing me right now.


Yes Nick There Is an Algorithm

It Knows When You’re Awake


Facebook is the social media king, with two billion users. Sprout Social breaks down Facebook and TikTok algorithms and the factors each considers:


  • Timing: When you post is a key signal Facebook uses to rank content in user feeds.

  • Demographics: Gender, language and location play a role; yes, Nick, you’re being socially profiled.

  • Account Credibility: A strong following and engaging content work in your favor.

  • Content Type: Prioritizes the type of posts users engage with most; watch more videos, and get more video content.

  • Relevance: Keywords or hashtags give content context and improve its visibility.

  • Engagement: Comments, shares and likes of your posts indicate quality content.

  • Facebook Connections: Content from the accounts you follow is prioritized over those you don’t follow.


TikTok’s algorithm is based on recommendations designed to curate the For You Feed (FYF) for each user with the following triggers:


  • User interactions: Your likes, views, shares, comments, searches, etc.

  • Location: Recency and popular content in your region determine content.

  • Video Details: Video quality, captions, sounds and hashtags prioritize content.

  • Device and Account Settings: Your language, device type and country each matter.

  • Watch Time: Number of replays and completed videos influence your feed.


LinkedIn’s algorithm displays content based on what your connections are engaging with. X (Twitter) displays content based on keywords.   


algorithms and cookies

Be Good For Goodness Sake


We don’t know the half of what algorithms, cookies, data science and automation software do with Nick’s data. As stated in Part I of my series, I’m not a Dead Head because I searched “San Francisco 1968.” In Part II, I demonstrated how one click of an eye product link brought 18 similar ads within 40 minutes. 


But too many is a bad user experience. Just ask Nick.


What alternative would I prefer? Perhaps a more subtle and spread out mix of ads and content about eye products. If I click, I realize the consequences, but it shouldn’t make me leave the store.


Nick would prefer a free hat for the bad experience.


I clicked, therefor I am. You know me and my data. I ask only that you use your algorithms and cookies to for good, not evil. 

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In Part IV, I explore the best times and places to get your clicks.

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bdeak82
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© 2025 Bob Deakin

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