algorithm autonomy
A person feeling empathy vs. a person who is an empath
I don’t think I need to reiterate but I’ve never been on TikTok and any sort of “viral” video takes a few weeks to make it to me. I’m just a pretty behind person.
But lately I’m seeing yet another episode of a harmful, upsetting video going viral simply out of people getting angry about it. So I’m going to suggest we do something about it, now that we kind of know how social media works and how it preys on us - let’s play ball.
I’ve seen 3-4 videos like this on social media lately that made me think of this. One being a call that leaked of a celebrity calling 911 for help against his wife for domestic abuse. This tweet came with the caption: “I hope he can get out of that situation.” A well intentioned note of goodwill, no problem there.
The problem is you still decided to post it. Even if it was someone else’s video, it seems we forgot one of the early golden rules of the internet: “be careful what you post online.” Can’t that apply for our behavior towards others as well? I recommend the following adjustment: “be careful what you post and repost online.”
This poor celebrity sounded distraught, claiming his wife had been physically striking him all night, and he finally broke down and called for help. He even plead multiple times not to press charges or create “a big deal.”
And yet, someone heard his pleas and decided to post it anyway. A video like that on the internet spreads like wildfire, so inflammatory. People love this kind of juicy gossip, and some have made millions off it.
But I read this caption “I hope he can get out of there” and found myself almost laughing.
He specifically asks for privacy but the video was still uploaded and spread. And lately, the flow of content and information has only sped up and there’s more info and videos than ever clogging up the inter-webs. So there’s a demand for more, more, more, anything, whatever, just more.
Passive social media users like myself (one who doesn’t make content for a living) consume a lot of media in a day; I know none of us are being truthful about our screen time reports. It’s embarrassing! It’s embarrassing that I, too, fall victim to the negative cycle of social media. Someone I heard on a podcast recently mentioned it was akin to a junk food addiction. And I love my Little Debbie.
Sometimes online we can get a glimmer of joy and laughter in the day, and I’m not here to hate on that.
I’m here to challenge us to take the algorithms into our own hands. You really want a more peaceful and gentle social media? Really? Then let’s do it. I challenge us to, when seeing a personal, or inflammatory video go viral, to just not interact. This also goes for people making aggressive political comments for their enemies to engage negatively - sometimes it’s a trap.
If you refuse to acknowledge it, the algorithm will take note and learn that doesn’t work on you anymore. It’s that simple. It’s not simple, however, to use social media daily with that kind of awakened, aware mindset. It’s intoxicating and even I fall into the trap every so often for a few minutes and then - oh Jesus it’s been an hour?!
No one’s immune to the traps of social media. It’d be like smoking meth once for “funsies.” I’m not even suggesting you limit your use. I’m suggesting you refuse to interact with the negativity. But you can take your algorithm back.