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The Argument Loop: How Algorithms Have Shaped Sports Commentary
Does controversy sell? Our favorite social media apps seem to think so, and that is a problem
JJ Redick, former NBA sharpshooter and current host of the Old Man and the Three Podcast, made an observation about engagement in sports commentary recently, calling into question what sort of content fans want to consume. Redick cited that when he recently made comments that were critical of Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, the video received millions of views. But when he engaged in some basketball analysis about the New Orleans Pelicans, it received 54,000 views. This prompted Redick to question whether fans truly wanted to be educated about basketball or not.
It is a fair question to ask based on the date that Redick is looking at. Like all content creators, he is going to create and cater his subsequent videos and episodes based on what moves the needle on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Redick has placed the blame on fans preferring to consume drama as opposed to valuing the intricacies of the game. What he has not identified with these comments is a different culprit for the disparity in view counts for his videos: the whims of social media algorithms and how they drive us to be vocally outraged instead of educated with nuance.
