The Case For Un-Algorithming
It has become common among the upper middle class lately to say that the internet is bad. In some ways of course it is, and in other ways it’s not, like most things, but that is not the point of this writing. We all know at least one person who has downgraded their iPhone to some sort of flip phone or monstrosity with a sliding keyboard in recent years. Other than 9-5 remote work and an episode of prestige television between 7 and 10pm, these aspirational individuals have untangled their lives from the spider’s web of tech’s spiral during the 2010s and 2020s.
I’ve had this same instinct, and to an extent I envy people who are actually able to pull the trigger on getting rid of their smartphones. But instead of this impractical and intimidating step, I have a more achievable suggestion for my generation of digital natives: Reduce interactions with all things algorithmic on your phone. This could be TikTok, Reels, Youtube Shorts, even AI-enhanced Spotify Playlists. Really it’s anything where an app or website learns about what you respond to and feeds you things that you want to see, or more specifically things that it thinks will keep your attention. I’ve been working on this for the past few months, and I’ve been shocked by the improvement in my mental well-being and how I relate to the internet.
Upon reflection, there are a few reasons that un-algorithming has been so rewarding for me personally, and why I think it could help you too.
1. You consciously choose the content you interact with, rather than the internet ‘happening’ to you as a passive consumer.
This realization about algorithms occurred to me when I was logged out of my YouTube account for whatever reason, so when I went to the web page I was suggested a range of default popular videos from creators like MrBeast. For a moment I thought about what I wanted to search, but then realized that I had no sense of what I wanted, and originally opened the page assuming that something would be suggested to me. When that didn’t happen, it drove home the fact that I hadn’t made a conscious decision to search up a video I found interesting or entertaining. I had half-asleep pressed a button for dopamine release, but wasn’t given any. I was a hamster licking an empty sugar water dispenser.
Deciding to leave it logged out to see how my behavior changed, it forced me to only open the site when I actually wanted to watch something. I still watch sports highlights, chess videos, and other things I enjoy, but only when I’ve made a choice to do so. Being an active consumer of content I like rather than passively opening YouTube has been mentally comforting, and has reduced the dehumanizing feeling I would sometimes have when scrolling until my finger hurt hoping I’d be fed something good.
2. You will more frequently decide that you have no further content you want to choose to consume, and therefore will close your phone or computer and do something else.
When there is no algorithm guiding you, each successive piece of media you consume must be elected. You’re more likely to get bored of your phone/laptop, or realize it’s too much of a pain to think of a new thing to search up or watch, and this is a good thing. You will do something else, anything else, and you’ll thank yourself for it.
3. Random/disconnected discovery becomes more likely.
This piece stands out to me relating to music, but applies to other forms of media too. Algorithms on Spotify suggest you indie music if you like indie, and suggest you death metal if you like death metal. This is fine, but it’s not discovery, it’s a bid to stuff you with what you already enjoy. Instead of a daylist or an AI-enhanced playlist, ask a friend to send you a new album, or think of a word to type into the search bar and find a user-created playlist with 40 songs and 4 followers. You may hate the particular song, but you’ll feel like a person in the real human world. And of course, you may love the song and enrich your life with a new genre of artistic expression.
If this resonates with you, try reducing your use of algorithmic media. You won’t miss out on important things, as none of your phone calls from grandma, text messages from friends, or important work emails are algorithmically driven (for now). In fact, you will only miss out on things that you don’t need to see, as the only entity that believes you need to see algorithmic content is something designed to capture your attention and package it into units to advertise against.
So stop using algorithmic apps and websites when it suits you, and turn off related features when it’s practical. Feel your humanity return to you, and make the internet feel a little bit more like a place of connection, discovery, and enrichment than it does today.
Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear your thoughts. And remember to cultivate your garden.