Through the evolution of content consumption, we have warped into an extraterrestrial dimension that planted it seeds and has not only sprouted, but it has become deeply rooted within our habits. We no longer have any possession over the content we consume, an algorithm does. Science-fiction may indeed have started to become our reality.
You may ponder and wonder, should this really be any of my own personal concern? Is it really that big of a deal? Isn\’t it just a part of technological advancements?
As humans, we somewhat carry the characteristics of a sponge. Not genetically obviously, but in the way we behave. We tend to become what we put ourselves around. This is inevitable. Some may come to me and claim that they are formidable pieces of unbreakable stones. This may not really be correct since it is a spectrum, not something that is either black or white.
As you may have realised, a lot of the social media applications we tend to utilise on a daily basis have launched a section where they offer short-form content. This comes with its advantages and disadvantages, just like anything in life. It obviously allows us to explore new ideas, but that could be a double-edged sword. When we do not control the content we consume, we start to take in all the different bombardments of ideologies and feelings that we may or may not want. It is indeed a risk. We could be normalising things that conflict our values due to us constantly seeing it over and over. It is similar to the snowball effect. The snowball could just start getting bigger and bigger until it\’s too heavy to throw out. That is what may happen if we give the algorithm the control.
What is the solution? You may not even need one because the algorithm may have been actually providing you with content you do not mind being a part of. If that is not the case, then reducing the consumption of short-form content may be an optimal solution. A way you could nudge yourself towards change is through consuming long-form content that you handpick rather than handing over the controls to an autonomous algorithm.
another thought-provoking post by you as always!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read!
Like always a pleasure to read this post thank you very much for the content you providing