Dr. Michael R. MacDonald
In this day of AI and ever more powerful media companies, we can be pushed down a slippery slope and end up a negative mess. We can struggle to unearth whatever optimism we did have under this mountain of negativity and pessimism.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
We can learn to exert some control over what is fed to us on our phones, computers and television sets. And we can gain some control over how our mood and our lives are affected.
First, let’s see how this all works.
Life in Today’s World Can Be a Real Challenge
Traditional news and media have always favoured negative stories. Remember the old saying from crusty journalists portrayed in the movies, “if it bleeds it will read”.
All media work hard even harder today to capture and retain our attention.
This is how they do it.
What is an Algorithm
We hear this term a lot lately, but what is it.
An algorithm is simply a set of instructions, like the procedure for tying your shoe laces or the steps laid out in a recipe.
Media companies like Facebook, Google and YouTube use computer programs with a highly complex set of instructions, called algorithms. These algorithms control what information you see on your devices.
In the Early Days
In the early days of social media, our news feeds consisted mostly of content that our friends or followers posted. This could be irritating, of course, since many users liked to use Facebook to brag about their perfect lives, when, in fact, their lives were far from perfect. Hence the nickname for Facebook, brag book.
There were still ads in the early days, but these ads looked like ads and were not that hard to ignore.
Now, things have become a little darker, according to Julia Angwin, founder of Proof News. In her article, Bad News: We’ve Lost Control of Our Social Media Feeds. Good News: Courts Are Noticing. (gift link), Angwin argues that media platforms have prioritized content that is outrageous, provocative and not necessarily accurate.
Moreover, platforms generally favour information that is negative, frightening and emotional. They have found that this content will illicit more views and engagement, than positive, hopeful and uplifting stories. So, that is what they will send to you.
Network news companies have had to compete with social media for audiences by offering more negative and shocking stories to their viewers.
What Can Be Done?
Essentially, all media want our business. The more people read and watch what they offer, and the longer viewers stay on each post or video (yes, they measure this), the more money the platforms make from advertisers. It is that simple.
We can protect ourselves by being selective on what we pay attention to. YouTube and all social media know what we read and watch. And the more we engage, the more of this similar content will sent to our devices.
According to recent studies, detailed in Max Fishers’ The Chaos Machine, the social media algorithms can feed us even more toxic and extreme messages the more we engage over time.
And the more passive we become, the easier it is for them to manipulate us. The media companies are constantly testing and measuring the impact of their stories. Then computer algorithms (or programs) put that information together to determine what to show us on our feeds or television news.
But, we don’t have to be the passive viewer they seek. We don’t have to let their wind blow us around, to their benefit.
You Can Take Some Control Back
Here a some simple steps that can help.
- Let your actions be choices. Remember that everything you click on, like, search for, watch and stay watching will send a message to the algorithms. The message to them is that I like that and I want more of it. The algorithms may then send you more extreme versions of what you like.
- Be Active and Selective. When you see something that doesn’t seem quite right, leave the site or platform you are watching. This is a simple and powerful message to the platforms. They hate that and it costs them money. If you are still curious, try and go to a credible website and check for the accuracy of the story. Or you can wait a few days and some credible sources may reveal a more accurate view of what happened.
- Check In With How You Feel. And then actively use that information to guide your actions. It is sort of like eating a lot of junk food and asking yourself how gross you feel and if this is the best way to treat your body and mind. Doomsday scrolling can make you feel, not only gross, but depressed, irritable and no fun to be around. Like they say, you (and your self-esteem) can disappear down a rabbit hole. Or sometimes, it may feel more like circling the toilet bowl.
- Even Comedy Can Be Demoralizing. I love watching The Daily Show and sometimes even the other late night shows. But even though I am laughing at the clever comedy, too much of it can bring me down. This is especially true if I watch different shows that focus on the same daily depressing events.
- Repetition Can Be Even More Depressing. A newscaster was once asked why news stations keep repeating the same stories over and over. The answer was that different people tune it at different times, so they repeat the story to try and catch as many viewers as possible. A second reason is that they have to fill 24 hours each day with content and this is not easy to do. It is not hard to imagine how negative stories watched over and over can bring you down. People out of work or retired are at high risk, since they are more likely to spend more time in front of the television.
- Be Careful About the Meaning. If you come across a story in the news, remember it is news because it is uncommon and often rare. A story about a murder in your city would not make the news unless it is uncommon. After reading this story, you may feel that more murders are likely to keep happening. This makes us all feel unsafe. And, unfortunately, some news shows capitalize on these fears to keep you watching. But, this is not a correct interpretation of the news story. One murder only means one murder. If more murders keep happening, this would be a separate story with numbers to back it up.
Even Your Self-Confidence Can Be Affected
You can protect yourself by being selective on what you watch. YouTube and all social media know what you watch. And the more you engage, the more of this similar content will sent to your feed.
These toxic messages can wear you down and erode your self-confidence and optimism.
Your confidence and self-esteem can be harmed in dangerous ways. For more details, see my earlier post, linked below.
Optimism is Precious
Optimism is a precious part of our personality and needs our protection.
I explained in another recent post how optimism can be a powerful force. It can lead to greater productivity, better health, stronger relationships and an improved quality of life.
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, Dr. Daniel Kahneman said it best, “If you are allowed one wish for your child, seriously consider wishing him or her optimism.” (I keep repeating this quote because I love it so much).
We all want more optimism in our and our children’s lives. It can be more difficult than ever to keep our optimism intact. But, with a little awareness and vigilance, we can return to being masters of our devices. (Hat tip to the classic Masters of Our Domain Seinfeld episode).
This is an expanded version of an article first published in Sixty & Me
Until next time, let our warm hearts soar!
Michael
michael@aWarmHeart.ca
And thank you for caring that little bit extra – it really makes a big difference.
