I want to talk to you for just a second about Data Dignity
If you don’t care that an Online site (Insta, YouTube, Twitter, the list goes on) is constantly pummeling you with “suggestions,” tracking you, and generally caring more about keeping you engaged (your eyeballs on the screen) than about letting you make your own decisions–think again! Remember what they say: if you are getting information for free, you are being used.
One way you can gain power in this “Attention Economy” is to create a better feed. Try getting what I call a Healthy Algorithmic Diet.
“FOLLOW” and “LIKE” sources that will then generate new input into your social-media feed. Once the bot sees sources like these, it will show you even more:
- https://twitter.com/mediawise?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3Amediawise%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c1
- https://www.instagram.com/mediawise/
- https://www.tiktok.com/@mediawise Yes, EVEN on Tik Tok
- https://www.tiktok.com/@mediawise/video/7217859295113776426 a Tik Tok version of FC video!
- https://www.tiktok.com/tag/internationalfactcheckingday #factcheckFriday on Tik Tok
Hmm https://www.tiktok.com/@factsmatterng/video/7140007513122032902
- PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs: these kids take on Tik Tok better than Stanford!: Debunking Conspiracy Theories about the Denver Airport | Is This Legit?
You can’t fight back against social media from inside social media. However, you can train it to serve you more effectively. Treat social media like it’s a stupid dog that loves you. Teach it to perform some new tricks. : )
How the government and tech companies are always bombarding you with “suggestions,” tracking your every move, and prioritizing keeping your eyes glued to the screen over your ability to make your own choices. It’s a subtle yet powerful way to control what you see and do.
The saying “if you’re getting information for free, you’re being used” couldn’t be more accurate. When services are free, it’s because your data is the real product. Every click, like, and search is tracked to build a profile on you. This data is a goldmine for advertisers and can also be used by the government to keep tabs on you.
The constant flow of tailored content isn’t just about keeping you entertained; it’s about shaping how you think and act. By controlling the information you see, these platforms can subtly influence your decisions without you even realizing it.
One of the reasons this is so effective is because project sites, like this one are designed to be incredibly easy to use. They make accessing websites and information seamless, ensuring you stay engaged without much effort. While this convenience is nice, it’s also a way to keep you hooked and continuously feeding them data.
Staying aware of how your data is being used and finding ways to protect your privacy is crucial. It’s the only way to ensure that you’re making decisions based on your own free will, not just what algorithms think you should do.