Email: the algorithm is absolutely tuned to maximize engagement in an maximally empirical, principle-less way

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Case 4:22-md-03047-YGR Document 2872-9 Filed 03/25/26 Page 1 of 2 AMENDED Exhibit 218 PLAINTIFFS' OMNIBUS OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Case No.: 4:22-md-03047-YGR MDL No. 3047 In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation Message From: Case 4:22-md-03047-YGR Document 2872-9 Filed 03/25/26 /O=THEFACEBOOK/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN= 10/26/2023 6:31:53 PM Sent: To: Subject: Message summary [{"otherUserFbId":100028925479616,"threadFbId":null}] (10/26/2023 11:30:56 PDT): Page 2 of 2 03.11.25 Exhibit 9 Lisa K. Bankins >(Y) so, relevant to the lawsuits, and some foreshadowing from Mark in Q&A just now basically the company position is that time spent and engagement metrics proxy user value and we are 'not' just tuning the algorithm to keep people scrolling as much and as long as possible... except mechanically, we absolutely do through a process called the "guided value model" (GVM) process. GVM halves and doubles the weights on every major relevance term, which is then fed into an algorithm that is told to optimize for (a) sessions; and (b) vpvs. It spits out a bunch of changes to the weights of different terms and then we ship it. So really, the algorithm is absolutely tuned to maximize engagement in an maximally empirical, principle-less way. I am not sure that the youth legal people realize this, and that it applies to teens just as much as gen pop... so the things contained in the lawsuits are somewhat hard to refute so long as Teens are part of the GVM process. (10/26/2023 11:31:53 PDT): >since you are in more conversations with youth legal/policy than I am, seems important that you also know :) HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL (COMPETITOR) HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL (COMPETITOR) ΜΕΤΑ3047MDL-047-00706686 METADCAG-008-01392310