The Real Problem is Not Algorithmic Recommendations, But Giving Up Your Choice.

In today's internet age, self-media is everywhere. However, the content we see every day may not be what we truly want to see, but more like passive electronic garbage being fed to us. With various information streams and short videos, we never know what the next thing we’ll encounter is. This causes us to keep scrolling, stopping to watch what we like or clicking on what interests us, and simply skipping what we don’t like. It seems like a choice we actively make, but the existence of big data algorithms ensures that we keep seeing similar content to what we already watch. At first glance, this might not seem like a problem because if the platform shows me content I'm not interested in, I just scroll past it, and eventually, I still end up seeing what I want.

Looking at it this way, there seems to be an unspoken contradiction: is the platform's algorithm catering to us really good or bad?

Let's first talk about why platform algorithms are designed this way. The main goal is to satisfy the platform's interests, which is to keep users engaged for longer. To achieve this, the platform tends to recommend content with clickbait titles. Below are some examples I asked ChatGPT to list:

• "You Won't Believe What She Did!"
• "I Was Speechless After Watching This!"
• "99% of People Don't Know This Secret!"
• "Watch This 3-Minute Video to See the Entire Movie!"
• "Side Hustle Secrets: How the Average Person Makes $10k a Month!"
• "Click Here to See the Last Sentence!"
• "Country Boy Transforms Old House, Inspires Millions!"
• "10 Mind-Blowing Psychological Facts You Never Knew!"
• "The Surprising Way Japanese People Wash Clothes!"

These seemingly diverse pieces of content are actually just variations of the same approach: either exaggerating suspense, stirring emotional resonance, or promoting content under the banner of "practical tips," "cool facts," or "life makeovers" to induce clicks.

Aside from this, the platform also uses the powerful tool of big data algorithms, which accurately push content you’re likely to enjoy. But the algorithm doesn’t just recommend what you "like," it recommends what you "will watch." Through big data, user profiles are created, and as time goes on, the algorithm understands you better, subtly leading you into the so-called "information cocoon." This narrows your worldview, with political views, consumer habits, and aesthetic preferences becoming more fixed and extreme, losing diversity.

So, What Should We Do?

I suggest that we actively explore, using the following methods to safeguard our independent will:

1. Make good use of search engines like Bing and Google to discover independent websites such as personal blogs, and don’t limit yourself to large platforms. Additionally, explore the search functions of various platforms to find content you enjoy. For example, WeChat's "Search" feature is excellent and can lead you to many high-quality public accounts.
2. Make use of subscription features to subscribe to content from platforms related to your interests or areas of knowledge. Use RSS to subscribe to independent blogs, newspapers, and new media outlets.
3. When encountering conflicting viewpoints, take time to explore content that presents different opinions, see how they argue, and consider issues from multiple angles. Don’t trap yourself in an echo chamber.
4. Browse information with a purpose—whether to answer questions or gain knowledge—not just for entertainment.
5. Use platforms like YouTube instead of short videos, as although YouTube also has recommendation algorithms, you can judge whether to watch based on the title and thumbnail, rather than having content randomly pushed to you. This adds an extra layer of active choice in the process.

Of course, I'm not saying we should completely avoid information streams or short videos. I just hope that we don't rely on them entirely. Listening to diverse sources leads to a clearer understanding. Don't mistake recommended content as the "entire world," and don't let platforms decide what you should see or believe. The greatest freedom in the information age is not drowning in the flood of information, but learning to swim against the current and finding your own information coordinates. And this is something we must always actively strive for.