Social media algorithms are like the ultimate puppet masters, designed to keep you hooked for as long as possible. They don’t just serve up ads—they offer up content they know will keep you coming back for more. “You may also like,” “similar to this,”—these are just their subtle ways of whispering, “Go ahead, stay a little longer, dive a little deeper.”
The real issue isn’t just that we’re getting sucked in. It’s that we end up trapped in a bubble. The more you scroll, the more you’re surrounded by content that aligns with your beliefs and interests, while everything else fades into the background, almost irrelevant. Think back to the last political election you followed: if you were getting your updates from social media, chances are, you were convinced your side had it in the bag—no matter the outcome. That’s the danger of living in a bubble: you start to see a reality that’s warped, distorted, and far from the full picture.
Further information
- The Future of Privacy, a podcast interview to Carissa Véliz, specifically speaking about “the bubble” at minute
4:00 - more