The internet isnt rotting your brain.
Algorithm-driven doomscrolling is rotting your brain.
But there is something you’ve got the option to do.
Mobile phone in hand against the background of an endless scroll of words - doomscrolling. Screen dependency disorder.© SashaMagic via Shutterstock.
Ive done it, and you’re able to, too.
I wont lie; this will be work.
You might have to install some software, learn some new tools, and even pay for some things.
I promise its worth it.
Its not my fault, we say to ourselves.
Its just what the algorithm is serving me.
Thats cope, a cop-out, and its how Big Tech wins.
Yes, many of these companies have powerful algorithms designed to keep you enchanted and scrolling.
But the heart of the problem is you.
A recent video from the YouTuber Technology Connections identified the problem and named it.
Ive chosen to call italgorithmic complacency.
It also offers a great place to start breaking the cycle: YouTube.
I have a friend who complains that YouTube is attempting to turn him into a right-wing ideologue.
And as such, hes at the mercy of the algorithm.
It doesnt have to be this way.
YouTube is one of the easiest sites to fix.
What it does is make it so you see videos from creators you already know you like.
It skips over the algorithm and takes you directly to the stuff you wanna see.
It gives you control over your experience.
Every morning I spend the first hour of my day reading the news and various niche websites.
Hell, you could evenconvert those YouTube subscriptions into an RSS feed.
I use NewsBlur, which costs $36 a year but has a lot of features and customization options.
Ditch Google search
This one took me the longest to do.
Itll probably take you the longest to do.
If you want search results that dont suck, youre going to have to pay for them.
A few weeks ago I was trying to find an old story of mine using Google search.
No matter what combinations of keywords I typed in, the story would not appear.
In my frustration, I went to Kagi.com and bought a subscription to its search engine.
The story I was looking for was the first result on the first page after the first search.
you’re free to try Kagi for free for 100 searches.
Its$5 for 500 searchesafter that and $10 a month for unlimited searches.
Google search is broken and Kagi works like magic.
Take control of social media or turn them into RSS feeds
This is another difficult one.
Social media platforms are another place where algorithmic-driven doomscrolling controls our lives.
But you have options.
They all rely on control and a little labor upfront.
If you must be on X, stick to the following tab and never touch the for you tab.
BlueSky allows you to cultivate lists of accounts based on areas of interest.
Every day you get on social media, do it with an active goal in mind.
Pick a time and scroll through whats been posted by the people you actually care about.
Heres one for Instagram.
The same companymakes one for Facebook.
But you should probably set hard limits on the amount of time you scroll.
How do you enforce this rule?
A timer and not one that is on the unit youre using.
it’s crucial that you make something across the room beep when its time to put the phone down.
You need your oven or microwave to yell at you when the timer goes off.
The point of the alarm is to get you off your feet and moving around.
Heres an adorablefox-shaped egg timeron Amazon for less than $10.
This fox can free you if only youll let him into your life.
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