Twitter has launched the code that chooses which tweets present up in your timeline to GitHub and has put out a blog post explaining the decision. It breaks down what the algorithm appears to be like at when figuring out which tweets to characteristic within the For You timeline and the way it ranks and filters them.
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Twitter takes its algorithm “open-source,” as Elon Musk promised
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23951428/acastro_STK050_02.jpg "Twitter takes its algorithm “open-source,” as Elon Musk promised")
In response to Twitter’s weblog submit, “the advice pipeline is made up of three principal phases.” First, it gathers “the most effective Tweets from completely different advice sources,” then it ranks these tweets with “a machine studying mannequin.” Lastly, it filters out tweets from folks you’ve blocked, tweets you’ve already seen, or tweets that aren’t protected for work, earlier than placing them in your timeline.
The submit additionally goes in-depth to every step of the method. For instance, it notes that step one appears to be like at round 1,500 tweets, and that the aim is to make the For You timeline round 50 % tweets from folks that you just observe (who’re known as “In-Community”), and 50 % tweets from “out-of-network” accounts that you just don’t observe. It additionally says that the rating is supposed to “optimize for optimistic engagement (e.g. Likes, Retweets, and Replies),” and that the ultimate step will attempt to just remember to’re not seeing too many tweets from the identical particular person.
In fact, probably the most element will likely be out there by selecting via the code, which researchers are already doing.
CEO Elon Musk has been promising the transfer for some time — on March twenty fourth, 2022, earlier than he owned the positioning, he polled his followers about whether or not Twitter’s algorithm ought to be open-source, and round 83 % of the responses stated “sure.” In February he promised it could occur inside per week, earlier than pushing back the deadline to March thirty first earlier this month.
Musk tweeted that Friday’s launch was “a lot of the advice algorithm,” and stated that the remainder could be launched sooner or later. He additionally stated that the hope is “that impartial third events ought to be capable to decide, with cheap accuracy, what is going to most likely be proven to customers.” In a Space discussing the algorithm’s release, he stated the plan was to make it “the least gameable system on the web,” and to make it as sturdy as Linux, maybe probably the most well-known and profitable open-source challenge. “The general aim is to maximise on unregretted consumer minutes,” he added.
Musk has been preparing his audience to be disappointed within the algorithm after they see it (which is, after all, making a giant assumption that folks will really be perceive the complicated code). He’s said it’s “overly complicated & not absolutely understood internally,” and that folks will “uncover many foolish issues,” however has promised to repair points as they’re found. “Offering code transparency will likely be extremely embarrassing at first, however it ought to result in fast enchancment in advice high quality,” he tweeted.
There’s a distinction between code transparency, the place customers will be capable to see the mechanisms that select tweets for his or her timelines, and code being open-source, the place the group can really submit its personal code for consideration, and use the algorithm in different tasks. Whereas Musk has stated it’ll be open supply, Twitter must really do the work if it needs to earn that label. That includes determining techniques for governance that resolve what pull requests to approve, what user-raised points deserve consideration, and cease dangerous actors from attempting to sabotage the code for their very own functions.
Twitter says folks can submit pull requests that will finally find yourself in its codebase
The corporate does say it’s engaged on this — the readme for the GitHub says “we invite the group to submit GitHub points and pull requests for strategies on bettering the advice algorithm.” It does, nonetheless, go on to say that Twitter’s nonetheless within the means of constructing “instruments to handle these strategies and sync modifications to our inside repository.” However Musk’s Twitter has promised to do many issues (like polling customers earlier than making main choices) that it hasn’t caught with, so the proof will likely be in whether or not it really accepts any group code.
The choice to extend transparency round its suggestions isn’t taking place in a bubble. Musk has been brazenly important of how Twitter’s earlier administration dealt with moderation and advice, and orchestrated a barrage of tales that he claimed would expose the platform’s “free speech suppression.” (Largely, it simply served to point out how regular content material moderation works.)
However now that he’s in cost, he’s confronted lots of backlash as effectively — from customers irritated about their For You pages shoving his tweets of their faces, to his conservative boosters rising more and more involved about how little engagement they’re getting. He’s argued that adverse and hate content material are being “max deboosted” within the website’s new advice algorithms, a declare outdoors analysts with out entry to the code have disputed.
Twitter can also be probably dealing with some competitors from the open-source group. Mastodon, a decentralized social community, has been gaining traction in some circles, and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is backing one other related challenge known as Bluesky, which is constructed on prime of an open-source protocol.
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After retroactively lowering the original Nintendo Switch’s repairability score from an 8 out of 10 to just 4 out of 10 to reflect 2025 standards, iFixit has found the Switch 2 to be even harder to fix. Following its full teardown of the new console, iFixit is giving the Switch 2 a 3 out of 10 repairability score thanks, in part, to a battery that’s once again “glued in with powerful adhesive” and flash storage modules and USB-C ports that are soldered to the main board.
Nintendo continues to rely on the tri-point screws the company has been using to assemble its consoles and handhelds for decades, and on the Switch 2, many are hidden behind stickers that get damaged in the process of removing them to access the screws. The company has never released repair parts or manuals for the original Switch, and there are currently none available for the Switch 2, so you’ll need third-party alternatives to reassemble the console.
Components like the headphone jack, speakers, microphone, and microSD reader on the Switch 2 are easy to remove. As are buttons that are soldered to breakout boards, and the console’s cooling fan that’s held in place by three screws.
But iFixit describes removing the Switch 2’s battery as an “absolute mission” and “just as bad as the original Switch.” Lots of isopropyl alcohol and a “whole set of pry tools” were needed to remove it, and in the process the foam Nintendo glued to the battery was left disintegrated making a future battery swap a difficult and messy endeavor.
The Switch 2’s gamecard reader, which was modular and relatively easy to remove and replace in the original Switch and Switch OLED models, is now soldered to the console’s mainboard as it is on Switch Lite. iFixit also found three different types of thermal paste used in the Switch 2 which in the original Switch would solidify over time making it hard to remove and less effective at preventing the console from overheating.
Even the new Joy-Cons on the Switch 2 are harder to disassemble, which is problematic because the joysticks are using the same potentiometer technology as the original Joy-Cons that rely on a resistive material that can wear away over time. That’s one of the causes of the original Switch’s notorious joystick drift issue and this time around it’s going to be even harder to do repairs or replace the sticks altogether with Hall effect or TMR alternatives.
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Sometimes it feels like our phones take up more of our time than they save. Between constant notifications, repetitive tasks and digital clutter, it’s easy to forget they’re supposed to make life easier.
But with a few simple setting tweaks, your phone can actually help you stay organized, reduce distractions and save time.
These built-in tools don’t require any extra apps or subscriptions, and once you set them up, they work quietly in the background so you don’t have to.
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An iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
5 ways to make your phone work harder for you and save time
1. Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up typing on your phone
If you’re constantly typing your email address, home address or the same greeting, you can save time by using built-in text shortcuts.
On iPhone:
- Click Settings.
- Click General.
- Click Keyboard.
- Click Text Replacement (2nd row).
- Click the “+” button at the top.
- Enter a phrase and the associated shortcut.
- Click Save in the upper right-hand corner.
CLEAN UP YOUR PHONE: SPEED, STORAGE AND PRIVACY BOOST IN MINUTES
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Click Settings.
- Scroll to General management.
- Click Samsung Keyboard settings. If you have a different keyboard set as your default, head to Keyboard list and default to find Samsung Keyboard. For this trick to work, you’ll need Samsung Keyboard set as your default. You can do that at the top of this page. Then select “Samsung Keyboard” before the next step. Finally, select Text Replacement.
- Click More typing options, or on some devices you may not see this, and you can proceed to click Text shortcuts and then click the ADD/+ button in the upper right.
- Enter the shortcut and the expanded phrase and then click add.
A few of the shortcuts I use include “@@” for my email, “adr” for my address and “gm” for a quick “Good morning!” but I’ve also put together a full guide of my most useful keyboard shortcuts here.
Smartphones (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PERSONAL INFO FROM PEOPLE-SEARCH SITES
2. Schedule Do Not Disturb mode to reduce phone interruptions
Instead of turning off notifications manually, let your phone do it for you based on a schedule or even your physical location.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Click Focus.
- Here you’ll find different Focus modes, like Do Not Disturb, Work and Personal, and each can be customized with its own schedule, app filter and notification settings.
- Select the Focus mode you would like to set up and then click Add a Schedule.
- From there you can customize Time, Location and App.
For example, when you click Work, you can allow notifications from key apps like Outlook or Slack and silence the rest. You can also allow for notifications from important people, like your co-workers and family members. When you click Add a Schedule, you’ll be able to customize a Time for your phone to know exactly when to turn Work mode on and off. Or, if you work odd hours, you can even set up Location, so when you arrive to work, your phone does, too.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Go to Settings.
- Click Focus.
- Then click Do Not Disturb.
- Tap Schedules to create custom rules by day, time or calendar event.
This feature helps reduce distractions while working, sleeping or commuting without needing to remember to toggle it on.
3. Set location-based reminders to never forget important tasks
Rather than setting reminders for a specific time, you can have them appear when you arrive or leave a location. This can be useful for reminders like “Pick up eggs” when you arrive at the store or “Bring laptop” when you leave home.
On iPhone:
- Open the Reminders app.
- Click New Reminder in the bottom left of the screen.
- Tap Details.
- Then toggle on Location.
- From here, select the Location where you would like to be reminded of your task.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Open Google Keep and create a new note.
- Tap the reminder icon and then select Place.
- From here, select the Location where you would like to be reminded of your task.
Now, your phone works like a virtual assistant, reminding you of your tasks when you need them most.
A person holding a smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
HOW TO INCREASE THE TEXT SIZE ON YOUR PHONE
4. Automatically delete old text messages to free up phone space
Instead of scrolling back through months or years of messages to clean up, you can set your phone to delete them automatically.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Click Apps, then find and tap Messages.
- Scroll down and click Message History.
- From here, you’ll have the option to keep messages for 30 Days, 1 year or Forever.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Open the Messages app.
- Go to Settings, then Message history.
- Look for an option to auto-delete old threads or limit stored messages.
This keeps your device from getting bogged down with old group chats or spam texts.
HOW SECURE IS MY PASSWORD? USE THIS TEST TO FIND OUT
5. Enable auto-updates for apps to keep your phone secure and updated
Make sure your apps stay up to date with the latest features and security fixes without needing to check manually.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Click Apps.
- Then find and tap App Store.
- Toggle on App Updates.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Open the Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Click Settings.
- Tap Network preferences.
- Click Auto-update apps.
- Choose whether to update over Wi-Fi or on any network.
Turning on auto-updates saves you time and helps keep your phone running smoothly and securely.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
These five small automations can make a big difference in how you use your phone. Setting up text shortcuts helps you type faster. Scheduling Do Not Disturb cuts down on unwanted distractions. Location-based reminders take the mental load off your to-do list. Auto-deleting old messages keeps things tidy. And auto-updating apps ensures you always have the latest improvements without lifting a finger.
Got a tip you’d like to share and/or what other everyday tech challenges would you like help solving? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Some people reported an unwelcome surprise after picking up their Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at GameStop: staples used to attach receipts to Switch 2 boxes ended up damaging the screens on the console, as reported by IGN. However, GameStop says this was an issue that was “isolated” to a single store and that it has already offered replacements.
When you open the box for the Switch 2, the tablet / screen part of the device is just under the top flap of the packaging. The tablet’s proximity to the top of the box possibly explains how staples could get through and poke holes in the screen — especially if the person using the stapler gave it a solid push.
Reports started trickling in overnight as people got their preorders. In this post on X, for example, you can see photos of two dots on the box, a bag, and the screen.
To IGN, a GameStop spokesperson said that it was “investigating the matter” and promised to “make customers whole.” And on Thursday, one Reddit user affected by the problem said that they spoke with a GameStop manager who said they would be able to exchange their damaged unit.
“We’ve addressed a unique case of staples damaging Switch 2 screens – isolated to one store,” GameStop says in a post on X. “Replacements have been offered. Staplers have been confiscated.”
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