The Change Engine

Prosocial Ranking Challenge

This project tests new ways to organize social media posts to make online discussions healthier. Instead of showing the most shocking or angry posts first, they test algorithms that promote helpful conversations and diverse viewpoints. Thousands of people use a special browser extension to try different ways of ranking posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Researchers study how these changes affect people's attitudes and reduce online fighting. The goal is to find better ways for social media companies to organize content that brings people together instead of dividing them.