The Australian government has recently announced "world-making" reforms that allow users to opt out of social media algorithms. This change, introduced under the banner "My Feed, My Way," seems set to transform the social media experience.
A Look Back; An Era Without Ads
As these reforms are taking shape, I decided to turn off the algorithm for 24 hours and travel back to a distant past; to 2012, when the internet had not yet been completely polluted by ads. By turning off the algorithm, I expected to have a new and different experience, and to my surprise, I was shown a video of a woman accidentally spilling a bucket of dragon fish on a train in China. This video not only amazed me but also reminded me of how entertaining and unpredictable the social media space can be.
Consequences of Deactivating the Algorithm
In my daily life, algorithms helped me easily find content I liked. But now, with them turned off, I pondered whether this change truly helped me access a form of creativity and free thought? Or is it just an illusion that gives me a sense of freedom?
Despite watching more videos of unusual realities, it seemed that this experience was far more entertaining than the algorithmic mundanity I was always faced with. Does this indicate a return to the golden age of social media, or is a new reality forming that we must adapt to? Questions that will undoubtedly occupy the minds of many of us in the days to come.
