During each renaissance period, the world has seen the rise of different aspects of innovations and aspects of thinking that end up shaping the world from industrialization, to art, to scientific discoveries, to space exploration and so on and so forth and each of these discoveries have proven to be impactful to the human race throughout the centuries, serving as a beacon of human betterment and improvements that have significantly made our lives significantly better. But the one unique discovery where, the bad seem to outweigh the good is the discovery of the internet in 1983, there is no doubt that it has made certain aspects of life easier from business to education to socialization and connecting with others in a faster, cheaper and more efficient way but we would be deluded if we don’t highlight the risks and damages, it has brought and is continuing to bring to our planet.
The damages the internet has brought are endless but the most notable one is how it has created an “attention economy”. This ironically means that each person addicted which is like half the population, has an attention deficit since all their attention is being fought for by big tech companies who want to distract you enough and keep you in their platforms for the longest time possible so that they can build a detailed idea of who you are, to the point that they are able to predict your behavior and later on exploit your vulnerabilities, insecurities, bad habits and egotistical whims to their advantage. To put it simply your attention is the infinite gold mine, the social media companies are the exploiters and sadly you are the slave that mines the gold inside of you. With each person knowing a thing or two about the attention economy the million-dollar question is how did they succeed on turning intelligent beings into puppets who have turned out to be junkies, with little or no control of how they can manage this addiction.
how did they achieve to control everyone?
To understand how deep of a problem this is we have to look at some worrying statistics that are linked to this unlikely addiction. For instance, the average human spends 4.5 hours per day, with teenagers clocking northwards of 7 hours and 22 minutes. but how did this become possible? Tech companies/ social media companies like Meta, Tik Tok, YouTube and snapchat are all fighting for your attention and since they want to maximize on that they have to find the best way to get it, how do they do it? by hiring the best attention engineers who use the science of behavioral psychology to design their products for maximum addictive potential, and by doing so they are highly compensated with an average salary of 47,000$.
Goldhaber’s article titled “attention shoppers” defines the attention economy as a system where human attention becomes the most valuable commodity. Unlike material resources, attention is finite and cannot be stored or transferred easily. this makes big tech companies to maximize on the humanly disadvantages as researched by their attention engineers e.g. the endless scroll effect otherwise known as doomscrolling which prey on one of our most intricate behaviors as humans that can be traced back to our ancestors during the Paleolithic period. Since they had to be on constant look out for danger our ancestors’ brains were wired to look for the next sight of it even if it seemed safe, this is similar to the infinite scroll adapted in different social media platforms, since one feels the need to scout for endless content and the warped idea that there is better more entertaining content if only you scroll further. The endless scroll also changes our perception of time just like staying on alert on hours on end during the paleolithic period that made our ancestors lose track of time.
Secondly, the creation of the notification button is also major contributor on how your attention can be manipulated which can be attributed to three major biases i.e. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the Novelty seeking which is our brains desire to seek new information and experiences and finally the Zeigarnik effect which is the brains tendency to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones, and notifications are a sign of unfinished tasks.
Thirdly, by creating features like the like, comment and share button the analyst’s prey on aspects such as the humanly innate need for social validation and belonging and these features signal an illusion of social interaction and approval, hence increasing users’ engagement.
Lastly, the use of bright colors which has a major psychological impact in two notable ways: firstly, bright colors can evoke strong emotional responses. For instance, red is often associated with urgency and excitement, which can create a sense of importance and immediacy. This can make notifications and alerts more compelling. secondly, bright colors are naturally more attention-grabbing than muted tones. They stand out in the user interface, directing users’ focus to specific elements like buttons, notifications, and new messages.
How to counteract some of this distinctive programming tactics
Adjusting notification Settings
Disable Non-Essential Notifications: Turn off notifications for less important updates to reduce interruptions and avoid being constantly drawn back to social media.
-Customize Alerts: Only enable notifications for critical communications, such as messages from close friends or family.
Use Grayscale Mode
– Reduce Visual Stimuli: Switch your phone or app display to grayscale to make social media apps less visually appealing and reduce their impact on your attention.
Organize Your Home Screen
– Declutter Your Screen: Move social media apps off your main home screen to minimize visual triggers.
– Group Apps in Folders: Place social media apps in folders with neutral names to make them less tempting to open impulsively.
Set Usage Limits
– App Timers: Use built-in app timers or third-party apps to limit daily usage of social media platforms.
– Scheduled Downtime: Set specific times during the day when you will not use social media, such as during meals or before bedtime.
Mindfulness and Intentional Use
– Set Intentions: Before opening a social media app, decide what you intend to do and how long you plan to spend on it.
– Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing, to increase awareness of your impulses and reduce the urge to check social media.
Modify App Interfaces
– Use Web Versions: Access social media through web browsers instead of apps, as browser interfaces can be less engaging.
– Third-Party Tools: Use tools or extensions designed to make social media less engaging, such as those that remove news feeds or hide notifications.
Build Alternative Habits
– Engage in Offline Activities: Replace social media time with offline activities that you enjoy, such as reading, exercising, or spending time with loved ones.
– Digital Detox: Periodically take breaks from social media to reset your habits and reassess its role in your life.
Enhance Privacy and Security
– Review Privacy Settings: Regularly review and update your privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your information and activity.
– Limit Data Sharing: Be cautious about the amount of personal information you share on social media to reduce targeted ads and manipulation.
Educate Yourself
-Learn About Manipulation Techniques: Understand how social media platforms use bright colors, notifications, and personalized content to capture your attention.
– Digital Literacy: Improve your digital literacy to critically evaluate the content you encounter on social media. Surely, the effects of social media are endless Mental Health Issues
– Anxiety and Depression: Constant exposure to idealized representations of others’ lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression. The pressure to receive validation through likes and comments can exacerbate these feelings.
– Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Social media can create a perpetual sense of missing out on exciting activities, leading to increased anxiety and dissatisfaction with one’s own life.
Addiction and Compulsive Behavior
– Social Media Addiction: The design of social media platforms, with features like infinite scroll and variable rewards, can lead to addictive behaviors where users feel compelled to check their feeds frequently.
– Distraction and Reduced Productivity. Frequent social media use can lead to distractions, reducing productivity at work or school and interfering with daily responsibilities.
Negative Impact on Self-Esteem and Body Image
– Body Image Issues: Exposure to photoshopped or filtered images can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
– Low Self-Esteem: Comparisons with others’ highlight reels can result in lower self-esteem and self-worth.
Cyberbullying and Harassment
– Online Harassment: Social media can be a platform for cyberbullying, harassment, and trolling, which can have severe psychological effects on victims, including stress, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
– Anonymity and Abuse: The anonymity provided by social media can embolden individuals to engage in abusive behavior without facing direct consequences.
Privacy Concerns
– Data Privacy: Users often share personal information on social media, which can be exploited for targeted advertising, data breaches, or identity theft.
– Surveillance and Tracking: Social media platforms track user behavior to create detailed profiles, raising concerns about surveillance and loss of privacy.
Impact on Relationships
– Relationship Strain: Excessive social media use can lead to neglect of real-life relationships, causing strain and conflicts.
– Jealousy and Infidelity: Social media can foster jealousy and suspicion in romantic relationships, sometimes even leading to infidelity.
Sleep Disruption
– Sleep Issues: The blue light emitted by screens and the stimulating content on social media can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and poor sleep quality.
– Night-Time Use: Checking social media late at night can delay bedtime and reduce overall sleep duration.
Misinformation and Fake News.
– Spread of Misinformation: Social media can be a breeding ground for the spread of false information, conspiracy theories, and fake news, which can influence public opinion and behavior.
– Echo Chambers and Polarization: Algorithms that personalize content can create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and contributing to political and social polarization.
Impact on Cognitive Abilities
– Reduced Attention Span: The constant stream of short, engaging content can reduce the ability to focus and concentrate on longer tasks.
– Impaired Memory: Relying on social media for information can lead to superficial processing of information, affecting memory retention and comprehension.
Economic and Professional Impact
– Job Distraction: Frequent social media use during work hours can reduce productivity and performance.
– Career Repercussions: Inappropriate posts or behaviors on social media can harm professional reputation and job prospects.
Mitigating the Negative Effects
To mitigate these negative effects, individuals can:
– Limit Social Media Use: Set specific times for social media use and avoid checking it during meals, before bed, or while working.
– Promote Digital Literacy: Educate yourself about the potential harms of social media and develop critical thinking skills to navigate content effectively.
– Engage in Offline Activities: Spend more time engaging in real-life activities and hobbies to balance online and offline life.
– Seek Professional Help: If social media use is significantly impacting your mental health, consider seeking help from a counselor or therapist.
– Strengthen Privacy Settings: Regularly review and update your privacy settings to protect personal information.
Despite, all these negative effects the trick of the century is that they created a paradox which can be explained further using the Buridan’s donkey theory named after the 14th-century French philosopher Jean Buridan, who satirized moral determinism with this example. The theory provides a glimpse of how the network affects our decision making, for instance during periods before the discovery of the internet, people became successful because they had a hold of valuable information that wasn’t easy to attain a good example is the intricacies of the stock market, but in comes the internet and everyone can access everything even stock options, because it’s all just a click away and you don’t even have to be wealthy, just a smartphone and stable internet. But, since the people on top of the hierachy dont want this dichotomy to change, they flood you with all the information in the world and you think you are learning but in hindsight, your just wasting time, but before you notice this it would already be too late.Human Decision Making: Like the fictional donkey, people often face choices between equally valuable options, thats why its notable to see that nowadays everyone is informed about everything from crypto,coding, to capital ventures but question is are they knowledgeble or do they just have crumbs to the bread thrown to us?Fortunately, our free will allows us to break the stalemate and make decisions even when faced with such dilemmas and if we pay attention to everything while still blocking out the noice, by disconnecting with our phones and reconnecting with the physical world, surely we can be able to maximize the potentiality of the beautiful discovery of the internet. Concurrently we can just accept to be manipulated and remain modern day slaves, that have no control, which isn’t such a bad thing or is it?