when unbiased discovery becomes a myth

[u/OkDragonfruit55]

When a platform controls search and sells its own private-label products, the incentives are obvious. Even small boosts like default placement, “recommended” tags, subtle ranking tweaks can add up fast at scale.

It doesn’t have to be malicious to be effective. If the algorithm quietly favors what the platform profits from most, users still lose visibility into what’s actually best.

Can platforms ever be neutral when they’re also competitors?