Regarding the pervasive influence of algorithms on consumer choices, what strategies do you believe are most effective for individuals to maintain agency in a landscape increasingly defined by digital recommendations? Your insightful reflection on both personal consumer habits and the more extreme tech longevity trends provides a remarkably nuanced perspevtive on our current digital age.
That's such a huge question and I don't know the answer. Ideally, we'd all chuck out our smartphones but that's not an option in an increasingly digitised world. But we clearly all need to put our phones down more, exert a bit more self-discipline and pick up more books. Or perhaps I'm just speaking for myself?! Anyway, thank you for your kind words.
If we were frozen for future defrosting, to meet up with our mates at a future date, would we make sure our eyelashes were intact? We may find ourselves for sale on a supermarket shelf. Who knows?
The mind boggles! Despite our outward appearances, what is more authentic are our inner qualities. I’m sure you’re a naturally successful coach, although training is effective. Being yourself is your greatest asset. Some people struggle with this. 🤓
I use Facebook for keeping in touch with old school friends, looking at what’s happening in my home town. Today I learned that another classmate had passed. There’s been a few over the years despite us all not even 60 yet. I try to avoid politics on FB though I’m tempted to reply to an old friend who supports Trump and Farage and everything that comes with it. If she announced she was a flat earther I wouldn’t be surprised. I use Twitter (X) for political stuff, I am trying to be constructive and not malicious or swearing. I am on here as you can see. I will try to post more about me but I put my blog thingy on for anyone who wants to look. It’s just for me and for fun. It gives me a focus in life.
I don’t get instagram really. Still getting to grips with it. I rarely look at adverts on FB many of them suddenly appear if I have been talking about something despite having SIRI turned off. Bluetooth can pick up things as well. First world problems.
It sounds as if you have a really sane relationship with social media. Well done! I'm sorry about your classmate. I fear we're in sniper's alley now. Six men close to me (brother, cousin, two ex-boyfriends and two friends) have died in their fifties and it certainly concentrates the mind. It's probably not worth getting sucked into exchanges with your Trump-and-Farage-supporting old friend. Have you read Nathan Hill's Wellness? He's wonderful on all this.
What’s incestuous is that our brains are trained to do this to ourselves if we aren’t careful. And there’s so much money, whether it’s meta or a state government like Russia (or the billionaires behind Trump) to push us along the way. The internet always had an angry underside (who remembers Usenet) but it’s amplified so much with these algorithms nowadays.
Australia has the right idea, ban social media to the under 16s. And then try and get the adults to put their phone down.
It will be very interesting to see how well the Australian ban works. I think social media is like a form of child abuse, but it's so hard (probably impossible) to put that genie back in the bottle...
Interesting article. Yes we’re all pulled constantly by social media - all media. Look at me! No look at me! Here! This!
For myself I try to focus on Substack - which is more like the real town square of old (OK, including the village idiots). But Twitter is my guilty and neurotic secret: bits of gossip, politics, creativity, coach tips… and on a futile one woman mission to report and or block every single troll 🧌 whilst tutting to myself about the end of civilisation…
Regarding the pervasive influence of algorithms on consumer choices, what strategies do you believe are most effective for individuals to maintain agency in a landscape increasingly defined by digital recommendations? Your insightful reflection on both personal consumer habits and the more extreme tech longevity trends provides a remarkably nuanced perspevtive on our current digital age.
That's such a huge question and I don't know the answer. Ideally, we'd all chuck out our smartphones but that's not an option in an increasingly digitised world. But we clearly all need to put our phones down more, exert a bit more self-discipline and pick up more books. Or perhaps I'm just speaking for myself?! Anyway, thank you for your kind words.
If we were frozen for future defrosting, to meet up with our mates at a future date, would we make sure our eyelashes were intact? We may find ourselves for sale on a supermarket shelf. Who knows?
The mind boggles! Despite our outward appearances, what is more authentic are our inner qualities. I’m sure you’re a naturally successful coach, although training is effective. Being yourself is your greatest asset. Some people struggle with this. 🤓
The mind boggles indeed. What a kind thing to say! Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. Xx
Same here xx
This resonated so hard: ‘For the fights that are coming, we are going to need our brains and our attention.’ A brilliant piece.
Thanks so much!
Agree! And I came here to Substack because it’s more like the old town square Twitter 😍
I use Facebook for keeping in touch with old school friends, looking at what’s happening in my home town. Today I learned that another classmate had passed. There’s been a few over the years despite us all not even 60 yet. I try to avoid politics on FB though I’m tempted to reply to an old friend who supports Trump and Farage and everything that comes with it. If she announced she was a flat earther I wouldn’t be surprised. I use Twitter (X) for political stuff, I am trying to be constructive and not malicious or swearing. I am on here as you can see. I will try to post more about me but I put my blog thingy on for anyone who wants to look. It’s just for me and for fun. It gives me a focus in life.
I don’t get instagram really. Still getting to grips with it. I rarely look at adverts on FB many of them suddenly appear if I have been talking about something despite having SIRI turned off. Bluetooth can pick up things as well. First world problems.
It sounds as if you have a really sane relationship with social media. Well done! I'm sorry about your classmate. I fear we're in sniper's alley now. Six men close to me (brother, cousin, two ex-boyfriends and two friends) have died in their fifties and it certainly concentrates the mind. It's probably not worth getting sucked into exchanges with your Trump-and-Farage-supporting old friend. Have you read Nathan Hill's Wellness? He's wonderful on all this.
Appreciated this! My family came from Puglia and I envisioned it in 2400 as a brotopia haha. Especially liked your play on “feed”, which I’ve been having a bit of fun with as well https://open.substack.com/pub/maxbrichta/p/feeding-addiction?r=h07gh&utm_medium=ios
How lovely to be from Puglia! And yes, I agree with your play on “feed”. What a disaster for us all etc.
Pretty much everything you’ve said. As always totally agree.
Thank you so much!
What’s incestuous is that our brains are trained to do this to ourselves if we aren’t careful. And there’s so much money, whether it’s meta or a state government like Russia (or the billionaires behind Trump) to push us along the way. The internet always had an angry underside (who remembers Usenet) but it’s amplified so much with these algorithms nowadays.
Australia has the right idea, ban social media to the under 16s. And then try and get the adults to put their phone down.
It will be very interesting to see how well the Australian ban works. I think social media is like a form of child abuse, but it's so hard (probably impossible) to put that genie back in the bottle...
Interesting article. Yes we’re all pulled constantly by social media - all media. Look at me! No look at me! Here! This!
For myself I try to focus on Substack - which is more like the real town square of old (OK, including the village idiots). But Twitter is my guilty and neurotic secret: bits of gossip, politics, creativity, coach tips… and on a futile one woman mission to report and or block every single troll 🧌 whilst tutting to myself about the end of civilisation…
Ps meant to say Thank you!
Thank you! Xx
Thoughtful and questioning as ever.