“We have unleashed a monster,” Mette Frederiksen tells Danish lawmakers.
Almost correct. What should be banned is algorithmic social media. Non-algorithmic is just fine also for kids.
Is it though? Even non-algorithmic social media has downsides.
No. The algorithms, created to maximize ad-profits, are the ones promoting “engagement” which due to human nature always means anything that polarizes will be shown higher up in feeds than calm rational discourse.
Yeah, very true. But non-algorithmic social media timelines are also bad for mental health.
Why do you think so? What data supports that statement?
(I’m old enough to have grown up with non-algorithmic social media)
There are multiple known possible negative effects of social media, not all off them caused by algorithmic feeds. Development of a negative self-image is the first thing to come to mind.
That, too, is caused by the algorithms. Else you would not be constantly fed with unattainable body images etc.
I think too many are unable to picture what algorithmic-free social media even looks like. Mastodon is a start, then you have Pixelfed (Instagram) and Loops (Tik-Tok) you can try as well. It’s really that different.
But don’t you think that even without algorithms, people on social media would have the urge to falsely portray their lives as perfect (or at least exclusively post about the positive aspects thereof) - leading to jealousy, FOMO and negative self-image for some of the viewers?
