There’s a fine line between staying aware of the events in the world and letting yourself be consumed by it. I’ve been thinking about this distinction lately: where awareness ends and algorithmic manipulation begins.
It’s one thing to understand what’s happening in the world and to take an interest in the injustices that have occurred throughout history. We can better understand why the world is the way it is at the current moment, and then ideally take steps in our personal lives that might bring change about. But we have access to information today on a scale and at a speed that would completely confound our grandparents generation. But with this access comes a cost. It’s another thing to expose ourselves, without plan or intention, to a flood of information we never actually agreed to receive, delivered through platforms designed primarily to extract our attention and sell it back to us.
What also strikes me more are more about social media isn’t just the volume of information, but how it culturally flattens everything. The same mannerisms and engagement tactics are used by people with completely opposite political and social opinions. The algorithm doesn’t care about truth or nuance: it cares about keeping you scrolling. This will only become more acute with AI.
This creates something peculiar: we can feel like we’ve participated in important conversations or movements, but that feeling is often just a discharge of energy rather than meaningful action. The platform gives us the sensation of engagement without the substance. Without risk and without skin in the game.
It’s not entirely new. Decades ago, Jean Baudrillard wrote about how we’d moved into an age of simulation, where representations become more compelling than reality itself. We become so saturated with symbols and images that we mistake consuming them for actual participation. What feels different now is the speed and scale: the simulation doesn’t just surround us, it responds to us, learning our patterns and feeding them back in ways that feel personal and urgent.
I had to confront this during the recent war between Iran and Israel. I found myself spending hours online, ostensibly looking for information, while my partner was doing the same. We told ourselves we needed to stay informed, but the reality was more complicated.
Yes, we could find out what was happening. But we couldn’t do anything meaningful with most of it. Once we were able to update her parents in Tehran about certain situations, the amount of videos, rumors and speculation only served to increase our own anxiety. The constant stream was making us both mentally worse off: exactly when she needed to be stronger for her family and I for her.
So I set a time limit on my consumption. It’s not easy to follow, but it reminds me to keep in mind that while it’s good to know what’s going on, you shouldn’t do this if the algorithm is in fact controlling you.
Instead of scrolling, I returned to reading physical books. I quickly remembered that if you put an hour a day into reading actual books (on paper, with paragraphs and sophisticated arguments, not threads of semi-reliable information and hot takes) you can cover substantial ground. You reinforce your critical thinking and extend your reaction time to outrage. The information in that viral video or trending thread? It’s usually available in books and papers, often with more depth and context, and without the rage bait that will only leave your cortisol levels unacceptably high.
The deciding factor is the discipline we have to have within ourselves. It’s the difference between passive consuming and conscious participation. When information comes too easily, we don’t have to work for it, think about it, or decide if it’s actually important to us. I’ve got an upcoming post about resistance, and if there no resistance, we tend to treat information like sugary sweets instead of the mineral and vitamin rich nourishment we really need.
The question isn’t whether we should stay informed, but whether we’re willing to be intentional about how we do it. Are we that lazy that we can’t seek out information on our own when it truly matters to us?
Social media platforms are designed to make money, not to make us better informed or more thoughtful. The specific content is almost irrelevant: it’s the delivery system that shapes how we think, often in extremes rather than nuance.
Awareness is valuable. But it’s worth asking: are we choosing our information diet, or is it choosing us?
Also of Note
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo - I’m very inspired by this woman for various reasons which I’ll likely get into in the future. She lived in a cave for 12 years.
Allies at War? - Some World War Two history always relevant, especially now. Crazy how many mistakes are made again and again. Interesting perspectives here mostly drawing on notes of diplomates and attaches, gives a sense of the scale of the war and level of confusion and distrust, even among players on the same team.
Stolen iPhone Building - That’s certainly an alternative economy.
Until Next Time
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