Algorithms – How They're Limiting Us





Algorithms are defined as "a set of instructions for solving a problem or accomplishing a task" but here, we're majorly talking about the algorithms that are used by the tech giants to keep "You" engaged on their platform for longer time and make money in the process. Either by serving you Ads, or by selling you products directly, or collect enough information about you [and share with 3rd party] so that they can show you Ads or sell you their products.

The basic goal behind these algorithms is to curate you with the content that you like so that you stay on the platform for longer. This doesn’t seem any problematic…. Right!?.... Wrong. Well, yes, initially and on the surface it in fact is not problematic.

However, as the time goes by and as the algorithm starts to understand the you [or as it thinks it does], and curates more and more suggestions for you without you actively looking for what you want to consume, then it becomes a problem.

In order to keep you on the platform what the algorithm does is that it curates more and more content that is similar to what you like and that’s where the problem begins. Because, in order to do that it ignores to show you the content that oppose your thoughts (even if that’s truer than what you think). And because “You Don’t know What You Don’t Know”, What this end up doing is that it solidifies your beliefs in your (essentially flawed) thoughts and refuses to paint a fuller picture for you. 


How To Identify If That’s Happening With You?

To know that this might be happening to you (which it probably is) you can critically evaluate following few things:
1. Evaluate what have you been watching on the screen(s). Basically boil-down every topic to 3-4 words.
2. Evaluate major source of your information, how was it presented to you, is this source credible, and how this source deal with opposing thoughts.
3. Evaluate current suggestions and how they fit in the description assigned with point no. 1.


How Can You Escape It?

As the algorithms are becoming stronger and with the introduction of AI in the field it becomes harder to escape it. However, trying following things might help:

1.   Actively searching for completely unrelated and even random topics regularly.

2.   Appreciate constructive criticism.

3.   Start questioning and evaluating the information that you consume.

4. Give a conscious thought about what to watch and rely less on self-curated recommendations.

 

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