No Algorithmic Feeds

This is not an original idea, it is something that came across some podcasts I listen to and my RSS Feeds.

The Wavelengths podcast discussed it in the episode with Stephen Hilger.

Additionally, The Verge’s Installer newsletter issue 105 interviewed Ryder Carrol, who created the Bullet Journal Method.

In that newsletter Carrol gives the following advice:

“Delete all algorithmic apps: I could quibble forever with the precise definition here, but I support the theory of getting rid of anything designed to keep your attention as long as possible”

My Take On Algorithmic Feeds

It is a nice heuristic and a way to simplify my digital life.

Clearly my attention and focus is worth something! Companies have devoted resources in order to grab it and never let go.

Recently I was really into Youtube Shorts because it kept drip feeding me skateboarding and Hollow Knight Silksong content.

Looking at my history and the time that I wasted, I disabled that feature (as much as I could, Youtube makes it very difficult to get rid of this completely).

Broader Thoughts on Social Media

I deleted my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit years ago. I have curated my own feeds and I have discussed it before.

I am Discord and Linkedin, the former of which is a real problem some days. On the rare occasion I open Linkedin, the endless scrolling tends to get its hooks into me more than I would like to admit.

I limit my time on Discord by not having the app installed and using LeechBlock to limit my time each day.

That friction is important.

Final Thoughts

My attention and focus are finite resources which are valuable.

Algorithmic feeds are created to dominate those resources for the benefit of the companies which created them.

I have to imagine at some point, that attention translates into some type of cash flow for the company.

I want to profit off of my attention, not some giant tech company.