1. Personalized Content Feeds

• What it is: Algorithms decide what posts appear in your Home, For You, or Explore pages.

• How it works: They analyze your behavior—likes, comments, shares, watch time, who you follow—and predict what content you'll engage with.

• Example: TikTok’s "For You Page" shows an endless stream of videos based on your scrolling and interaction patterns.

2. Engagement-Based Prioritization

• What it is: Content that gets more likes, comments, shares, or watch time gets boosted.

• How it works: Algorithms use these signals as proof that the content is valuable or entertaining.

• Manifestation:

3. Filter Bubbles & Echo Chambers

• What it is: Over time, algorithms show users content that confirms their beliefs or preferences, limiting exposure to differing views.

• How it works: Based on what you engage with, platforms feed you similar content, reinforcing biases.

• Result: Users may become siloed in specific communities, sometimes unknowingly.

4. Algorithmic Sorting of Friends’ Content

• What it is: You don’t see every post from every friend.

• How it works: Algorithms decide which friends’ posts are “important” to you, based on previous interactions.

• Example: On Instagram, you might always see your best friend’s story but rarely see content from a classmate unless you interact with them.

5. Search & Discovery Recommendations

• What it is: When you search or browse hashtags, suggested content is algorithmically ranked.

• How it works: The algorithm weighs relevance, recency, popularity, and similarity to your past behavior.

6. Content Timing and Frequency

• What it is: Some platforms boost content that was recently posted or schedule its reach over time.

• How it works: Algorithms may push your post to a small test audience first—if it performs well, it gets promoted to more users.

7. Shadowbanning and Content Suppression

• What it is: Posts might be quietly deprioritized (without being deleted) if they’re deemed spammy or violate vague content guidelines.

• How it works: The algorithm detects signals like too many hashtags, flagged keywords, or coordinated behaviors.

8. Targeted Advertising

• What it is: Ads are hyper-targeted based on your online activity, location, interests, and more.

• How it works: Algorithms match advertisers with audiences using machine learning and user profiling.

Summary in One Sentence: