Btw: I usually “scare” my algorithm. I don’t save cookies, I renounce to that for my freedom (even if it takes me extra seconds to put my info).
I also go to random articles, videos, and searches. Back when I had Instagram, it thought I was both a person interested in knitting and NBA, grunge music and playing the flute in classical music. It thought I had NFTs and interest in basebol and singing classes and warm ups. This keeps it coming up with interesting things - not so personalized, broad enough to keep me living a real life where I encounter a bit of everything.
Do you know what the strangest thing is about algorithms? I made a joke in my post about Meghan Markle gossip, but for quite some time, I was getting all sorts of articles re: the royal family, stuff about William and Kate and Harry and I NEVER click on anything even tangentially related, and neither does anyone else in my household. I couldn't care less about the royal family!
Daniel, this was such a refreshing and thought-provoking read. Thank you for this!
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon you earlier this weekend/week. But somehow I did. So yay algorithm? Even if it wasn’t a personalized one.
It seems I read my own thoughts, that I’ve been sharing for sometime now. - to the point that I also
Read actually a washing machine Beko manual, and I laughed a lot at this part: “Never wash your pets in the washing machine” prompting me to actually laugh out loud. and back in the phoneless days, how many shampoo bottles I read? Thousands 😂 if I didn’t have my Geronimo Stilton book or those “horrible histories”.
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading the book reclaiming conversation - the power of talk in the digital age, by Sherry Turkle.
it rang a bell to me when I read this post of yours :)
You're welcome, my pleasure, glad you appreciated it :)
I'm glad you did stumble upon it - I suppose that's the magic of algorithms. I honestly have no idea how they work at this point in my life, but especially in Substack, I do like the surprises they throw in my way ('throw in my way'? that doesn't sound right, but I'm leaving it)
I'll add that Sherry Turkle book to my TBR list. I've heard of it and it sounds interesting. I read a book once on the history and art of conversation and it was disappointing. It wasn't a well-known book and I can't remember the name or author.
Thank you for this! As someone who also remembers a time before smartphones, algorithms and internet, while I can't relate to having so little available to read that I had to resort to car manuals, I did sometimes feel as though content was limited. Again, I would never presume to have the same situation or circumstances as those living in Ukraine or other counties outside the US. Now that content is seemingly limitless, I do find it ironic at how often, and how frustrated I get trying to find new things to read in my feeds. I too am loving the new categories functionality of Substack! Yet another reason this is my favorite "social" platform.
It used to be such a simpler time, right? Too much choice makes things overwhelming ('the paradox of choice' I believe it's called). TV was similar where I was growing up. In the UK we had only 4 channels but there was always something good on. And for a few years our only option was AFN: the Armed Forces Network, the one and only channel for the American military overseas. Tough times on one hand, simpler on the other.
In a world of algorithms, we should be the anomaly; seek out diverse perspectives to enrich your understanding.
Btw: I usually “scare” my algorithm. I don’t save cookies, I renounce to that for my freedom (even if it takes me extra seconds to put my info).
I also go to random articles, videos, and searches. Back when I had Instagram, it thought I was both a person interested in knitting and NBA, grunge music and playing the flute in classical music. It thought I had NFTs and interest in basebol and singing classes and warm ups. This keeps it coming up with interesting things - not so personalized, broad enough to keep me living a real life where I encounter a bit of everything.
Do you know what the strangest thing is about algorithms? I made a joke in my post about Meghan Markle gossip, but for quite some time, I was getting all sorts of articles re: the royal family, stuff about William and Kate and Harry and I NEVER click on anything even tangentially related, and neither does anyone else in my household. I couldn't care less about the royal family!
Daniel, this was such a refreshing and thought-provoking read. Thank you for this!
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon you earlier this weekend/week. But somehow I did. So yay algorithm? Even if it wasn’t a personalized one.
It seems I read my own thoughts, that I’ve been sharing for sometime now. - to the point that I also
Read actually a washing machine Beko manual, and I laughed a lot at this part: “Never wash your pets in the washing machine” prompting me to actually laugh out loud. and back in the phoneless days, how many shampoo bottles I read? Thousands 😂 if I didn’t have my Geronimo Stilton book or those “horrible histories”.
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading the book reclaiming conversation - the power of talk in the digital age, by Sherry Turkle.
it rang a bell to me when I read this post of yours :)
You're welcome, my pleasure, glad you appreciated it :)
I'm glad you did stumble upon it - I suppose that's the magic of algorithms. I honestly have no idea how they work at this point in my life, but especially in Substack, I do like the surprises they throw in my way ('throw in my way'? that doesn't sound right, but I'm leaving it)
I'll add that Sherry Turkle book to my TBR list. I've heard of it and it sounds interesting. I read a book once on the history and art of conversation and it was disappointing. It wasn't a well-known book and I can't remember the name or author.
Thank you for this! As someone who also remembers a time before smartphones, algorithms and internet, while I can't relate to having so little available to read that I had to resort to car manuals, I did sometimes feel as though content was limited. Again, I would never presume to have the same situation or circumstances as those living in Ukraine or other counties outside the US. Now that content is seemingly limitless, I do find it ironic at how often, and how frustrated I get trying to find new things to read in my feeds. I too am loving the new categories functionality of Substack! Yet another reason this is my favorite "social" platform.
It used to be such a simpler time, right? Too much choice makes things overwhelming ('the paradox of choice' I believe it's called). TV was similar where I was growing up. In the UK we had only 4 channels but there was always something good on. And for a few years our only option was AFN: the Armed Forces Network, the one and only channel for the American military overseas. Tough times on one hand, simpler on the other.
I enjoyed reading every second of this. It's easy to get stuck in a rabbit hole, but I'm pleasantly happy when the 20th hole finally has contrast.
Appreciate the kind words! I'm afraid it's all downhill after this. I should've set the bar lower.
You watch your moouuuth mister