Are you satisfied with the current state of social media? I know I’m not. Endless feeds of content that entertain, elicit a chuckle, or make me angry all leave me feeling empty. This mental masturbation is algorithmically facilitated to waste as much of time as possible.
Back in 2020, we seriously considered banning TikTok. The app was accused of being spyware for foreign adversaries, and the algorithms were blamed for spreading misinformation. But in practice, foreign adversaries can easily buy any mass consumer data they want, and misinformation is spread just as easily on any other platform. In reality, TikTok was a scapegoat for the growing dissatisfaction with social media as a whole. Its perfection of short-form content proved much more addictive than its predecessors, and was quickly copied by every other major social media. Youtube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and even Facebook are now conceptually indistinguishable from TikTok.
Social media has come under the limelight in recent years, with everyone generally agreeing that they are vaguely “bad.” But while these algorithms have taken center stage, the real issue lies in the ones that hide in the shadows.
Algorithms control an increasing part of our lives, from advertising to news, and even how we drive. Google Maps was created to find the fastest route from point A to point B, but now also avoids neighborhood and other small roads. This change was pushed after a controversy around a sudden spike within a local community. With these changes, traffic is routed around and the neighborhood is peaceful again. This is a good thing, right? No. Google injects it own morality into the algorithm, and in doing so, makes a decision for drivers. Drivers often prefer to take the fastest route, even if it cuts through a neighborhood. Google takes this choice from us.
Spotify is likely the most egregious offender. Its “shuffle” algorithm - which should play songs uniformly at random - weighs songs by your own play history, and will play songs you’ve listened to more often. This creates a funnel that keeps you listening to the same songs over and over, rather than introducing you to new music. I have over 2,000 songs in my library, and I still can guarantee the first 20 songs whenever I hit shuffle play. Why? It seems Spotify has decided that I don’t want to hear new music, and instead wants to keep me listening to the same songs over and over. Again, the platform places its own desires over the user’s.
I no longer trust any corporation’s claims. They don’t have your best interests at heart, and will betray you for the vague promise of “net social good,” or to keep you on their platform, or simply to make more money. But what can we do about it? We can’t just stop using these platforms, social media is a social necessity and the only way I can connect with others in my generation. They are an increasing buisness need. And some, like spotify and google maps, are just extremely convenient. It is our job then, to reject convenience and demand better. How? That’s up to you.