Ditch the Algorithm
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In this post I'll attempt to convince you that the hidden "Algorithm" (content algorithms prevalent in social media) is useless at best, and actually harmful in most cases.
So what is the Algorithm? It's simply a way of measuring and adapting to people's behavior with a product to increase engagement.
In other words, the purpose of the Algorithm is to manipulate you to use it more.
You might think that you enjoy that effect… so while I could talk about how it's bad for you, I should instead explain how it might not be as enjoyable as you think.
The reason you don't enjoy it as much as you think you do, can be explained by how the algorithm uses intermittent reinforcement. I like this explanation on reddit by u/ElonMaersk.
When you experience something good during an activity, you are driven to do the activity more. But only to a point, once your mind understands that what you want is easily accessible, you actually just get bored, not manic.
On the other hand, if you never get what you want during activity you'll obviously stop.
The trick to generating mania in a person is to tease them with what they want. We already know this of course, this is why gambling is successful. Additionally, games are also a simulated space where we find success or failure intermittently, which can drive more use.
Whatever the activity, the more destabilizing the experience, the more enticing it becomes.
Some games are more destabilizing than others, many online games utilizing intermittent reinforcement by artificially altering the game to become easier or harder by matching you with lobbies of varying skill level. This provides the illusion of always being on the precipice of success while never fully mastering it.
Other games provide deep mechanics which can take years to master, so while they don't outright lie to us, can provide a similar effect, being hard to master.
Many people though can simply choose not to engage. That explains why if gambling is so engaging, not everyone is throwing away their life savings for the thrill.
At the end of the day, choosing not to engage is the ultimate solution to avoid falling into unnecessary intermittent reinforcement pits. Even understanding that you are being manipulated is not enough to avoid being manipulated.
For this reason I really think most people should avoid using the features in Social Media or games that utilize manipulative content algorithms. Sadly it's pretty ubiquitous, so you might be considered a luddite for doing this. Consider first that your own presence of mind and attention is more much more important.
I don't think social media is bad and not all games are bad, just media utilizing the Algorithm. There are ways of getting around it, and I'd encourage you to find them and try them out.
Please share ways that you've found to interact with your friends and family and the world without the algorithm, and I'd love to hear about them! You can reach me via email at kyle [at] periks [dot] net