A reason to love Instagram
Every now and then the algorithm can deliver useful information...
Bumpy is an orphan baby hippo currently in the care of a rescue operation called Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya.
Bumpy’s mother (it is presumed) was killed by rival male hippos while trying to shelter her newborn from attack.
Bumpy is unbelievably cute. And thankfully, he is being cared for accordingly. He even has an adoption page on the Sheldrick webiste for softees like me who favor cute baby animals.
I learned about Bumpy this morning from Instagram’s algorithm which suggested I might like the story.
It was right.
Given the work I now do around developing skills for navigating algorithmic terrain none of us designed but are expected to succeed in wildly, seeing this story the algorithm served up to me gave me pause. Questions came to mind.
Is it possible the algorithm can occasionally deliver useful information?
Does knowing about Bumpy and his story add (yes) or take away (no) value from my life?
If much of life is simply a series of random events, coincidences, and collisions, could algorithmic influence on our lives be little more than the next evolution of that?
I decided as I drank my morning tea that the answer to each of these questions is yes.
For now.
The reality is, most of us are now engaging with algorithmic content all day every day. While most of it continues to be vapid and distracting and an utter waste of time, every now and then it gets it right.