Subset multi-objective optimization in a social network

A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to implement operations comprising:

• obtain an optimization criterion based on at least two constraints related to a performance of the social network;
• obtain, from a member activity database, data indicative of interactions with content items by a first subset of a population of users of the online social networking system, the content items having been displayed in individual ones of a plurality of sequentially-ordered positions of a content item feed;
• provide, via a network interface, to user devices of a second subset of the population of users different than the first subset, a mix of content items selected to meet the optimization criterion based on the data indicative of interactions by the first subset as obtained, the mix of content items provided in the plurality of positions of the content item feed;
• store, in the member activity database, data indicative of interactions by users of the second subset with the mix of content items;
• determine, for a position of the plurality of positions, a ratio of a first type of the plurality of content items of the mix to a second type of the plurality of content items of the mix to meet the optimization criterion;
• and
• based on the optimization criterion being met the data indicative of interactions by users of the second subset, provide, via the network interface, with the processor, to user devices of the population of users, the mix of content items, wherein that content items of the first and second types are displayed in the position according to the ratio for the population of users as a whole.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the processor, comprising instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to implement operations comprising:
• obtain an optimization criterion based on at least two constraints related to a performance of the social network;
• obtain, from a member activity database, data indicative of interactions with content items by a first subset of a population of users of the online social networking system, the content items having been displayed in individual ones of a plurality of sequentially-ordered positions of a content item feed;
• provide, via a network interface, to user devices of a second subset of the population of users different than the first subset, a mix of content items selected to meet the optimization criterion based on the data indicative of interactions by the first subset as obtained, the mix of content items provided in the plurality of positions of the content item feed;
• store, in the member activity database, data indicative of interactions by users of the second subset with the mix of content items;
• determine, for a position of the plurality of positions a ratio of a first type of the plurality of content items of the mix to a second type of the plurality of content items of the mix to meet the optimization criterion;
• and
• based on the optimization criterion being met the data indicative of interactions by users of the second subset, provide, via the network interface, with the processor, to user devices of the population of users, the mix of content items, wherein that content items of the first and second types are displayed in the position according to the ratio for the population of users as a whole.