# Uncovering the Interaction Equation: Quantifying the Effect of User Interactions on Social Media Homepage Recommendations

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.07227 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.07227/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 9 Jul 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Examining the Role of YouTube Production and Consumption Dynamics on the Formation of Extreme Ideologies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.08049/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Social media platforms depend on algorithms to select, curate, and deliver content personalized for their users. These algorithms leverage users' past interactions and extensive content libraries to retrieve and rank content that personalizes experiences and boosts engagement. Among various modalities through which this algorithmically curated content may be delivered, the homepage feed is the most prominent. This paper presents a comprehensive study of how prior user interactions influence the content presented on users' homepage feeds across three major platforms: YouTube, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter). We use a series of carefully designed experiments to gather data capable of uncovering the influence of specific user interactions on homepage content. This study provides insights into the behaviors of the content curation algorithms used by each platform, how they respond to user interactions, and also uncovers evidence of deprioritization of specific topics.