Unf3ck Your Algorithms to Improve and Protect Your Intellectual Wellness
The year was 2016, I remember it well. The presidential election was becoming increasingly unhinged. My social media feeds were in overdrive delivering me content, that I would soon find out, was deliberately meant to excite me with anger. Somewhere along the way, the smart people at the social networks figured out what that TV people have known forever – controversy and negativity keep people engaged more than positive content.
Fast-forward a few months and I had had enough. In February 2017, I deleted all social medias to disconnect, not so much from screen time, but from the intensity of the content. Everyday, I was feeling like I was about to lose it, and more to the struggle, about to lose it on someone else. I was being programmed to do this.
Social Media manipulation of its user base is not only real, IT IS THE PLAN! The manipulation happens on multiple levels usually without our conscious knowledge of it. The Socials have one goal in mind and that is to keep you scrolling and reacting negatively. The algorithms want you engaged and enraged.
This is not healthy, my friends.
In 2021, I re-engaged with social media. It had been four years since I last interacted and I was determined that this time would be different. I am only back to support my Coaching Practices and share what I hope is good quality content that can improve someone’s life. Having an awareness of the manipulation behind the scenes caused me to become more vigilant about how my algorithms will respond to the content I react toward. My goal was to manage a social media presence by simply not trusting the Socials to be good.
A huge factor in managing your intellectual wellness is being proactive about managing the messaging we receive. Our brain is only trying to make sense of the world so it can keep us safe and at rest. When we allow the negative messaging to infiltrate constantly, it keeps our brains in a state of alarm and vigilance. So as we engage with “threatening” content on the internet we are sending signals to our brain that there is reason to be alarmed and vigilant. This keeps us in a state of stress – physiologically and emotionally.
I want to encourage you to protect your intellectual wellness by engaging with your socials in a new way: Unf3ck Your Algorithms. By doing so you can take conscious control of your socials and protect yourself from the content they really want to deliver to you. Unf3cking your socials can benefit you by keeping you out of the stress loop they create. This means a reduction in all the negative reactions to stress particularly around negative thought patterns. Here are three ways to Unf3uck your Algorithms and keep your intellectual sanity.
1. Disengage from content that you might normally engage with – particularly if it is emotionally charging or stressful. Our brains don’t operate well when we send it signals of constant alarm. So if you are engaging with content that creates a stress or panic or alarm on a regular basis you are keeping yourself in a heightened sense of stress. This may lead to a fear-loop where you are constantly buttressing your own fear and feelings with sensational things that if you just looked away from would have no bearing on your actual experience of life.
Try these tips to disengage from sources that may be threatening your Intellectual wellness.
-Snooze or Unfollow Sources for 30 days. Facebook and other socials give you options to snooze or unfollow without necessarily disconnecting from that source entirely.
-Unfriend or block connections that post content that is challenging for you or creates an alarm in you. You really don’t need to be aware of every perceived ill in the world to be happy. Save this one for when it is most necessary to do so. The person or group could be toxic or not interested in good things.
-Let it go. Did you know in most cases you can just keep scrolling. Interacting with every post that excites you – particularly in a negative sense – increases your stress levels. Stop doing it. Your algorithm is watching every post you engage in whether you make a positive comment or not. If it is on a negative thread – then guess what – you reacted to it. So more will be coming your way.
We are not suggesting that you turn off your reasoning, desire to learn or know, or ignore conflict going on in the world. Just take a step back and see that not every problem or person needs your attention.
2. Be proactive about engaging in content you might not normally engage with. When we activate our curiosity it sends other signals to our brain and body that we are in a state of relaxation. We are not responding to stimulus with the same vigilance when we are curious as when we are in a state of alarm. Curiosity drives connection, empathy, and knowing to understand. When we engage with content that activates our curiosity we usually leave in a more positive mindset feeling built up by the content and not feeling torn down by it.
Here are some tips for being proactive about engaging in content you might not normally engage with:
-Search one positive random topic on your socials and see what comes up. Just by activating the search you are unf3cking your algorithm and introducing new options to your feed. You can almost see this happen in real time when you do. Ultimately, the algorithms want to sell you on something, might as well be something that is positive and worth engaging with.
-Make social connections with people, groups, and pages that are different than you. One of the worst features of the algorithm is it keeps you in an echo-chamber. You will not see or be presented with things that the algorithm does not want you to see. You must be proactive. Having diverse connections will introduce things into your algorithm that you may not have been exposed to before. I never knew how cool and engaging “Haka” videos are. And I have learned so much about other people and cultures because of a few random connections or clicks on things that I was curious about.
-Quit the doom-scrolling. You will find what you are looking for. Look for positivity.
3. Ads are a part of the socials and here to stay. We can use them for our advantage. You probably have already noticed ads pop up on your socials that seem way to “on point”. You are right. The socials are listening. This also includes your Alexa’s, Siri’s, and Hey Googles. They are listening for what they might can sell you on. F3ck with them right back.
-Click on random ads just to confuse your algorithm. If you are tired of seeing certain ads, use the options facebook gives to alter your algorithm. Then go rogue. Click on and through different ads to confuse the algorithm. Don’t be predictable and make it guess what you are looking for.
-Click on and through things that bring you joy. Cat videos. Wholesomeness. People helping people. There is a lot of positivity present on the socials. We just have to be proactive about training our algorithms to find it for us.
The main point is that we stay vigilant toward things that are seeking to harm our wellness in any capacity. This creates a stress alarm that lingers well beyond our interaction with the post. For all the fancy things it can do our brains are still quite primitive. We receive information at such a fast pace that our brains struggle to make sense of all it. Do your brain and your intellectual wellness a favor by unf3cking your algorithms. And if you need a complete break from the socials, well that might be the best thing for all of us.
Let’s reclaim sovereignty over our intellect by unf3cking our algorithm. By doing so, we can also eliminate many of the negative thought patterns and attitudes we carry. If you are wanting to increase your intellectual wellness than working with a Resiliency coach may be right for you. In doing so, you can learn to train, focus, and protect your intellect while remaining engaged in positive intellectual pursuits that soothe the mind and create a sense of calm. Ascent Lifestyle Solutions has trained resiliency coaches that can work with you to improve every dimension of your wellness.
We would love to hear about your experience with the algorithms. Comment, share, or reach out to us directly with “I want to Unf3ck my Algorithms and get on the path to intellectual wellness.” You may also schedule a free consultation with us to learn how we can support you and your intellectual wellness.
