Resist the Algorithms

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

Click on the 0 view YouTube video and the Twitch stream with no views. Send a like to that post from someone in high school with no reactions.

So many people talk about leaving social media, wanting more community, and craving realness, but their actions on social media do NOT show it. Instead, they fall for the same exact patterns that algorithms want them to. Only react to and engage with content that’s popular, controversial, and gives you a chance to get more views and reactions.

And this is the wrong strategy if you’re serious about building community.

Let’s remember that most in-person interactions are one-on-one.

That’s where the deepest conversations lie, that’s where the truths start to unfold, and that’s when relationships are built.

My 0 view YouTube and Twitch streams end up giving me temporary, but meaningful, conversations when someone’s brave enough to engage.

I’m a real person and you are too. Algorithms only take your humanity from you when you allow them to.

So, beyond DMing your faves on TikTok or Instagram, send a message to someone you used to know well. Confuse the social media algorithms just enough to dish out more diverse content so you don’t fall for a bubble.

I do this all the time.

My YouTube feed has been mainly ghost stories. Before that it was political. Now, it’s social commentary. It’s enigmatic, confusing, and I keep the algorithms guessing.

So, clearly, I care less about branding and more about care and community.

And that’s the point.

Care less about what the algorithm wants you to do and use platforms to engage with content that’s new, fresh and different.

If you’re worried about AI or just don’t like AI-generated content, you can just keep scrolling instead of engaging. Engaging signals to these algorithms that you’re going to give your attention.

If that’s you, stop doing that. Engage with the real, human content you say you prefer and, of course, I don’t mean the human-made algorithmic slop that pervades YouTube (with or without AI-generation).

In general, put your money where your mouth is. Resist the algorithm and take control of it if you really want to see the benefits of what the world has to offer and what social media can provide to you.