[jvm___]

All the ideas that the world will be perfect if you would just think thoughts like these...

"manifest what you want from the world" and "think positive thoughts and everything will be ok"

Is actually kind of true when you think about all the algorithms that run social media. If you only ever search for cats and scroll past anything political, the algorithms will learn what you like and feed you more cats.

So, if you're searching up relationship advice, and spending time on those things, that's what you get back from 'the borg'.

You do have control over what social media shows you, it's just that you need to work against your basest desires in order to get there.

[Zak]

Youtube occasionally, but regularly tries to show me culture war content even though I never watch it and usually tell it "don't recommend this".

[harry8]

It's like those "drug pushers" we were told about in school but don't seem to actually exist who use weed to constantly try to get you onto more lucrative for them heroin no matter how many times you say "no thanks." Heard that so many times at school, never heard anyone encountering anything like it in the real world.

But here we are with google, facebrick et al saying "come on, just try a little culture war" because its lucrative for them, no matter how many times you say no thank you.

It's really sick but yeah, obviously lucrative and Larry, Seregey & Mark clearly need the money.

[neura]

I think this was an issue that was really only an issue for specific geographic areas, but also an easy bandwagon to jump on and look like you're "fighting the good fight". It was an actual problem in one area from my childhood, but never saw it anywhere else.

Otherwise, fully and wholeheartedly agree that it's now a global issue and is indeed real. Welcome to the "global community" we were always told was going to be such an advancement for society.

[askvictor]

Not just the new/tech companies, but gaming/gambling companies, and really, a lot of large businesses in general.

[jvm___]

The gaps of "what do we show now" are filled with popular content, so culture war content is what you notice but there's probably other tamer things that only the algorithms know is popular.

[neura]

Yeah, it's very much a game of "well, other people fit this profile, but also tend to watch this other thing, we should recommend that, as it will probably hook this person as well. With any luck, they'll be grateful that we introduced them!"

[formerly_proven]

From the algorithmic feed PoV it's a very high value cluster (average watchtime has to be very high, audience retention is probably quite excellent) so it's unsurprising that it'll try to get you hooked from time to time.

[andrepd]

I watched a funny video of the President of my country mis-pronouncing a word in English. The recommended videos afterward were comprised ENTIRELY of the local far-right party's propaganda.