The Pat Kenny Show Tech with Jess: Resetting the algorithm
Nov 18, 2025
Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, dives into the fascinating world of social media algorithms. She explains how algorithms create echo chambers based on our interactions and offers practical steps to reset feeds on Instagram and TikTok. Jess also covers controlling YouTube data for personalized ads and discusses the best tech for kids, including call-only watches and Chromebooks. If you’re pondering a phone upgrade, she recommends the Samsung A56 for budget-friendly performance. Don't miss her gadget gift guide preview!
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Small Signals Create Big Echo Chambers
- Algorithms assume interest from brief signals like watching a video for more than three seconds.
- Those small signals produce echo chambers that repeatedly show similar content and ads.
Personal Example Of Targeted Ads
- Jess describes seeing ads for skinny teas and medication targeted at women in their 30s.
- She uses this example to show how algorithms make assumptions about users.
Use MyActivity.Google To Clear Google Data
- Use myactivity.google to view and delete your Google and YouTube history and reset preferences.
- Turn off ad personalization to stop ads following one-off searches or impulse shopping.