Users can choose what clients they want to use.
Users can choose what relays they want to use.
Users can run their own relays.
There are open source clients that can be modified.
The API is open. Nobody needs permission from a central controller to create an account, post or do stuff with events.
Relay service providers are free to choose what messages that store and relay, set fees and offer related services (filtered messages, long term storage etc)
It's permissionless and censorship resistant.
Influencers may post bounties to sway development of features but these are going to still be open and only pursued if the net result is in ones own best interest.
The algorithms in terms of pushing content to users really depends on the closed vs open nature of a client and the relays it's sourcing from