I have been thinking a lot about the concept of signal, noise and spam in social networks, specifically how it relates to Steem. 

## Signal ##
For the sake of this argument, I will define signal as posts that you find interesting for whatever reason. Note that what constitutes a Signal varies from person to person, and even a single person may define something as a signal at different times, depending on their mood (for example, when you are in the mood for cat pictures, cat pictures are a signal in this model)

## Noise ##
In some ways the opposite of signal. This is the posts that hold no interest for you, for whatever reason. Normally, you would just ignore this stuff, and scroll past it.

## Spam ##
While signal and noise are individual, spam applies across the system. While we all understand that, while posts that are noise to you are a signal to somebody else, Spam is the kind of post which is not a signal for anybody. Spam posts decrease the utility of the network as a whole.

## Conclusion ##
So, as a social network, we need to be able to increase the noise/signal ratio for each member as much as we can. I believe that the recommended link engine is a step in the right direction. Upvotes are not a sufficient signal, in my opinion, since they do not provide an individual dimension.

The other challenge we will have as Steem matures, is Spam, and how to control it. While I have not seen much Spam on Steem, yet, I think it will become more apparent as the network matures. (I would welcome seeing spam at this stage, since it would actually show that Steem has achieved sufficient penetration to be seen as worth spamming, but I digress)