Isn't basic conditioning the point the artist is attempting to make? I interpreted the project as pointing out that social media uses fundamentally similar reward mechanisms as we use in training animals
It's like saying "people have been painting realistic portraits of women for centuries, Leonardo, and this one doesn't add anything or illuminate the subject of portrait-taking further. Still, I appreciate her ambiguous smile."
This would be a stronger point itself if you didn't succinctly validate it with the second sentence of your initial post!