[aahortwwy]

Engagement loops do control people's minds. They explicitly aim to maximize the amount of time people spend on a platform. They are inherently manipulative by definition.

It's common when interacting with an engagement loop to experience a loss of agency (perceived, at least). People don't like that feeling, even when they like the content they are being shown.

Machines can be built to exploit odd elements of human psychology. I strongly recommend the book Addiction by Design.

[yodsanklai]

I think "control" is too strong of a word. I'm sure they can influence behavior but other things do influence behavior (advertising, medias, TV, sugar) and we're not excessively worried about them.

[aahortwwy]

I think it's exactly what they do. Control doesn't have to be total. People lying in bed doomscrolling for hours are being controlled, even if just partially, by an engagement loop.

Engagement loops, like the other things you listed, are not inherently "good" or "evil". What organizations use them for may be good or evil, but that's a separate discussion.