What is signal, what’s the difference from noise, and how are they calculated?

Signal is directional content. It gives shape, meaning and intent to a message, and it moves understanding forward.
Think original takes, analysis, educational posts or context-setting posts — anything that helps people orient themselves in a conversation.
Signal answers “what does this mean?” or “what should I think about next?”

Noise is distributive content. Its role is to move messages across the network rather than explain them. Think formats optimized for sharing (a bold one-liner engineered to be quoted), memes or engagement-driven posts (a ranking table or binary choice engineered to trigger fast reactions).
CT largely runs on noise because distribution is how messages travel.

These are examples, not rules. Context determines whether something functions as signal or noise.
The same post can act as signal in one environment and noise in another. The system evaluates how it’s used, how it spreads, and how the network responds, not the format itself.
The exact weights and mechanics are not public.