Every day, we log on, we scroll, and we consume. But have you ever stopped to ask: Who is deciding what the world sees today?
At Area-6, we’re obsessed with how technology shapes our reality. But right now, that reality is being curated behind closed doors. While billions of us interact with social media, the data on which posts actually “win” the attention economy remains a closely guarded corporate secret.
That’s why we are backing the latest urgent call from the Mozilla Foundation and a coalition of global researchers.
The Absurd Truth
We know that viral content shapes elections, influences public health, and dictates cultural trends. Yet, the public—and even independent researchers—have no way of knowing which posts are actually dominating our feeds.
Mozilla made a simple, “non-rocket science” request to the giants: YouTube, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X.
The request? Share a list of the top 1,000 most-viewed public posts per country.
These aren’t private messages; these are public posts already seen by millions. Despite the simplicity of the request, every single platform has, so far, refused.
Why Transparency Matters for Area-6 Readers
In a digital-first world, transparency isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s a safety requirement. Without knowing what is going viral, we face three massive risks:
- Unchecked Disinformation: Election interference thrives in the dark.
- Algorithmic Bias: If violent or extremist content is being prioritised for engagement, the public deserves to know.
- Crisis Blindness: When the next global crisis hits, we shouldn’t be relying on the “goodwill” of a billionaire CEO to tell us what information is spreading.
The Platforms Are Holding Out
By refusing to share a simple list of popular public content, these platforms are effectively saying they are above public oversight. They are happy to profit from our attention but unwilling to be held accountable for the “information diet” they provide.
How to Get Involved
Area-6 believes the internet should be an open, transparent resource—not a series of black-box algorithms designed to keep us scrolling at any cost.
Mozilla, along with AlgorithmWatch, AI Forensics, and others, is building public pressure to force these platforms to open the books.
It’s time to demand the Top 1,000. [Click here to read the full commitment and add your name to the petition.]
Stay informed. Stay critical. Stay tuned to Area-6 for more updates on the fight for a transparent digital future.
