Algorithms on social media are one of the tools used by technology companies on the apps, games and websites we use every day. They show you content you enjoy so that you spend more time on their sites. But in doing so, they can influence your thinking. Algorithms can lead you into an echo chamber where beliefs are amplified and you only connect with people who hold a similar view. If you’re not aware of how they work, what starts out as a fun way to be with friends online can negatively affect your mental health.
What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of rules or processes designed to solve a computer programming problem. On social media, and on search engines such as Google, algorithms analyse your online behaviour, then rank content and curate what you see so that the posts, videos or search results are likely to be of interest to you. Algorithms take data from the different sites you use, and gather information about you and the kind of content you are likely to click on.
The Positive Side Of Algorithms
An algorithm knows your likes and dislikes. It knows what you’ll love to watch, and what you’ll want to click on. It can serve you up interesting content that is unique to you. An algorithm can help you to explore your passions and learn more about the world around you. It can save you hundreds of hours of searching for something interesting to read or watch. A study from Drexel University in the US of young people aged 13 to 17, found that personalised algorithmic content gives teens what they perceive as an accurate mirror image of themselves. The study participants reported that they really liked seeing this social media reflection. In these years of getting to know yourself, and who you will be as an adult, an algorithm can help to give you a sense of identity.
The Negative Side
You might think the algorithm knows you really well, but the reality is it reflects your scrolling behaviours, not who you are as a person. And it doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
The purpose of the algorithm is to keep you online as much as possible so that your data can be collected and sold to companies. This gives them a detailed understanding of how to entice you to buy their products and use their services. Algorithms have become so intelligent that they can predict what someone will want to buy before they themselves think of it.
The algorithm grabs your attention in numerous ways. Humans naturally seek connection and validation from others, so each time you receive a ‘like’ or a friendly comment on your posts, it releases a neurotransmitter in your brain called dopamine that gives you a happy feeling. The trouble is, these brief highs can be followed with a low that leaves you craving more.
Algorithms also operate by drawing people into echo chambers where they hear opinions that are similar to their own, in a similar way to the diagram above. This can strengthen beliefs, because no one is offering a different opinion. Algorithms can even change your thinking. In the documentary film The Social Dilemma, writer and computer scientist Jaron Lanier says, ‘It’s the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your own behaviour and perception that is the product… That’s the only thing there is for them to make money from. Changing what you do, how you think, who you are. It’s a gradual change.’
Because algorithms want to grab your attention, no matter what, they may serve up negative content to keep you focused. For example, someone watching videos of cute dogs might be shown a sad video of an abandoned dog. Engaging with that video might unintentionally result in an increase of negative content.
The result of this kind of mind manipulation can be poor mental health. A study of colleges in the US looked at the mental health of students as social media was introduced. The researchers found that joining social media led to an increase in depression and anxiety. Another study of 14-year-olds found that greater social media use was correlated with poorer sleep, online harassment, poor body image, low self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms.
What’s The Solution?
The decision to go on social media, either now or in the future, is one to think about carefully and talk to your parents or guardian about. If you are on social media then there are ways to mitigate the negative effects. Here are a few tips:
Have a time limit
A trial of college-aged youth in the US found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes daily over three weeks led to significant improvements in depression.
Take a break
Another study found that young adults and adults who deactivated social media reported greater levels of happiness and life satisfaction, and lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Notice your mood
Check in with yourself before, during and after using social media. Notice how you are feeling and the thoughts that pop up when you are scrolling. Notice the curiosity and desire that tempts you to keep scrolling or click. From time to time, stop and ask yourself, do you really want to look at this, or is there something else you would prefer to be doing?
Engage carefully
Save likes and comments for your close friends, but don’t engage with content unless you really need to. This keeps a healthy distance between you and the algorithm. Avoid engaging with negative content. ‘Liking’ positive content can help you to curate a feed that is uplifting rather than depressing.