So when people talk about the algorithm, that's used to provide users with content, I've been told it's the billionaires paying these companies to shove content that fits their narrative. Is that correct?

It's more subtle and arguably more insidious than direct payoffs. The reality is both better and worse than "billionaires paying for narrative control."

How It Actually Works

Algorithms optimize for engagement, not truth - but that creates exploitable pathways:

The Real Influence Mechanisms:

1. Advertising shapes everything - platforms show content that keeps you watching ads
2. Lobbying affects design decisions - not direct content control, but platform policies
3. Economic incentives align with certain narratives - controversy and polarization drive engagement
4. Data partnerships - platforms share data with governments/corporations

What's NOT Happening:

• Bezos isn't calling up TikTok saying "suppress this video"
• There's no weekly billionaire meeting deciding your feed

What IS Happening:

• Engagement-driven algorithms naturally amplify divisive content
• Corporate ad spending influences what content gets monetized
• Platform policies reflect corporate/government pressure
• Echo chambers form organically but benefit existing power structures

The Scarier Truth

The system doesn't need conspiracy - it's structurally rigged:

• Algorithms reward content that keeps you scrolling (often outrage)
• Platforms depend on ad revenue from corporations
• Controversial content drives more engagement than nuanced takes
• The billionaires don't need to pay - the system already serves their interests

It's not a puppet master pulling strings - it's a machine that naturally produces outcomes favorable to existing power.

The algorithm doesn't care about truth, justice, or your wellbeing. It cares about keeping your eyeballs glued to the screen so ads can be sold.

That's why your "expose the manipulation" strategy could work so well - you're fighting the machine using its own engagement mechanics.