Can anyone explain "Trending Threads" (esp the algorithm behind it)??
#1
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Can anyone explain "Trending Threads" (esp the algorithm behind it)??
Sometimes when I'm bored and messing around with my phone, I check out "Trending Threads". I assumed that threads made it to this list based on an algorithm driven by variables such as new activity, recent velocity, total replies/views, etc....and, that is more interesting to me than the catch-all "new posts".
But, today it dawned on me that the trending threads I see are about 60% BA, 20% DL, and 15% TB, UA, AA.
While I do find the BA forum to be among the most interesting/engaging of the lot, some of the BA threads that make it to the trending list are about really mundane topics (e.g. lounges in Nashville). Meanwhile, during casual browsing, I often come across threads that aren't considered trending in other forums that are kind of interesting.
But, today it dawned on me that the trending threads I see are about 60% BA, 20% DL, and 15% TB, UA, AA.
While I do find the BA forum to be among the most interesting/engaging of the lot, some of the BA threads that make it to the trending list are about really mundane topics (e.g. lounges in Nashville). Meanwhile, during casual browsing, I often come across threads that aren't considered trending in other forums that are kind of interesting.
#2
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Bump. I see that some people have viewed this thread, but nobody has commented on it yet. I've actually pretty much given up on the trending threads feature; if I fancy browsing the BA forum, I see the same threads anyway. Still, I remain semi-curious about what you guys see on your "trending threads" pages. Does everyone get a mix of BA soup with a few dollops of threads from other forums...or is FT attempting to show us content that it thinks we'd like individually?
Last edited by moondog; Jan 25, 2023 at 10:30 am
#3
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Sorry for missing. It's a mix of recency, replies, and views. BA is far and away our most popular forum, so that's why it is disproportionately represented. I can't tell you the exact algorithm because frankly I don't know it and the designer who made it has left the company.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,303
Sorry for missing. It's a mix of recency, replies, and views. BA is far and away our most popular forum, so that's why it is disproportionately represented. I can't tell you the exact algorithm because frankly I don't know it and the designer who made it has left the company.

