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Okay, time to let out a secret. I've built a skill in curating my feeds online such that I see only positive, true, and healthy news.
It almost failed in the last two weeks, but I bounced back. Here is a thread.
It almost failed in the last two weeks, but I bounced back. Here is a thread.
The fundamental problem is that what is easily amplified by human beings is what our irrational mind wants to engage with. And our mind is attuned to the extraordinary things (probably for evolutionary reasons. But I won't stand by that logic.)
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS!!!
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS!!!
See. All caps gets attention so easily.
I bet you cannot guess this surprising next thing that gathers attention the most!
Clickbait.
Here is a sample that is so meta: https://medium.com/zerone-magazine/you-wont-believe-how-these-9-shocking-clickbaits-work-number-8-is-a-killer-4cb2ceded8b6
I bet you cannot guess this surprising next thing that gathers attention the most!
Clickbait.
Here is a sample that is so meta: https://medium.com/zerone-magazine/you-wont-believe-how-these-9-shocking-clickbaits-work-number-8-is-a-killer-4cb2ceded8b6
Clickbaits, hashtags, colours, buttons, algorithmic suggestions, notifications...
These are all intentional efforts at what is called attention hacking.
There is a lot written about this phenomenon, but unironically, not a lot of attention has been paid: https://www.1843magazine.com/features/the-scientists-who-make-apps-addictive
These are all intentional efforts at what is called attention hacking.
There is a lot written about this phenomenon, but unironically, not a lot of attention has been paid: https://www.1843magazine.com/features/the-scientists-who-make-apps-addictive
People like @aza are working on helping people take back the control https://humanetech.com/resources/take-control/
But they can't succeed until people realize that this is a problem.
So. Let us define the problem.
But they can't succeed until people realize that this is a problem.
So. Let us define the problem.
The problem is that clickbait, notifications, viral news, fake news, information overload, and the pandemonium that we are in today are all symptoms of the same disease.
And that disease is caused by us letting our attention wander on its own.
Some people call it distraction.
And that disease is caused by us letting our attention wander on its own.
Some people call it distraction.
But distraction doesn't cover it entirely.
I keep referring to it as the world's transition into an attention economy. Attention is the token by which we pay each other.
I don't know if there is a proper name at all for the problem. Maybe you can come up with a name.
I keep referring to it as the world's transition into an attention economy. Attention is the token by which we pay each other.
I don't know if there is a proper name at all for the problem. Maybe you can come up with a name.
At an individual level, it is possible to overcome this and I've done that. And that's what I will talk about.
I deleted my Fa(r)cebook account in 2015: https://learnlearn.in/facebook/
I deleted my WhatsApp account a few months ago: https://blog.learnlearn.in/2020/01/good-riddance-whatsapp.html
I deleted my Fa(r)cebook account in 2015: https://learnlearn.in/facebook/
I deleted my WhatsApp account a few months ago: https://blog.learnlearn.in/2020/01/good-riddance-whatsapp.html
I unfollowed more than 700 people on twitter. I liberally mute people. I block people who tweet bad stuff. And then I mute friends who quote tweet those bad stuff with hate.
I can't stress this enough. Quote tweeting negative things is equivalent to amplifying negativity.
I can't stress this enough. Quote tweeting negative things is equivalent to amplifying negativity.
I decided to write this thread down because someone in my timeline retweeted a meme which shows a news channel that everyone hates in a bad light.
If you hate it, don't talk about it.
If you think someone is wrong, don't amplify their voice.
Don't feed the trolls.
If you hate it, don't talk about it.
If you think someone is wrong, don't amplify their voice.
Don't feed the trolls.
If we could just stick to those basic things, we would be able to eliminate half the negativity.
Fake news thrives when people try to discredit it by engaging with it and amplifying it.
Hateful people thrive on the attention they get from good people.
Fake news thrives when people try to discredit it by engaging with it and amplifying it.
Hateful people thrive on the attention they get from good people.
It is hard to go against what your mind tells you. It is hard to ignore unwanted stuff. And that is why it is important to curate what you see. Algorithms can't do it for you. You have to do it on your own.
Unfollow people. Mute. Block. Mute is particularly useful.
Unfollow people. Mute. Block. Mute is particularly useful.
When you mute someone, they don't know you've muted them. So you can use this for your friends & family even.
Tools like WhatsApp which doesn't give you powerful tools like these are really bad. Don't use them.
For eg, WhatsApp doesn't allow you to permanently archive a chat.
Tools like WhatsApp which doesn't give you powerful tools like these are really bad. Don't use them.
For eg, WhatsApp doesn't allow you to permanently archive a chat.
Take Telegram, on the other hand. It allows you to archive chats and you don't see them again unless you want to.
Slack, similarly, allows you to segregate your messages by topic and workspaces.
If people don't use these, make a hard choice - your sanity vs their convenience.
Slack, similarly, allows you to segregate your messages by topic and workspaces.
If people don't use these, make a hard choice - your sanity vs their convenience.
When the pandemic started, I wasn't prepared. Everyone everywhere was talking about it and I got dragged into it.
For two weeks I was literally paralyzed by all the bad things happening.
Then I expanded my muted words to accommodate it: https://twitter.com/asdofindia/status/1246131892836945925
For two weeks I was literally paralyzed by all the bad things happening.
Then I expanded my muted words to accommodate it: https://twitter.com/asdofindia/status/1246131892836945925
People ask me where I get my news from.
For one, you don't need news. News needs you.
There is an amazing essay about avoiding news by Ralf Dobelli. https://www.gwern.net/docs/culture/2010-dobelli.pdf
I stopped reading newspapers about 3 years ago.
For one, you don't need news. News needs you.
There is an amazing essay about avoiding news by Ralf Dobelli. https://www.gwern.net/docs/culture/2010-dobelli.pdf
I stopped reading newspapers about 3 years ago.
For a long time I used to diligently read news because 1) My dream was to become an IAS officer back then and 2) I thought it would make me super smart.
But 1) IAS is losing charm. People like @naukarshah are resigning.
2) Books make you super smart. Not news.
But 1) IAS is losing charm. People like @naukarshah are resigning.
2) Books make you super smart. Not news.
Some say I'm living under a rock. That I generally hate new things on the internet. Hello no.
I've been among the earliest adopters of all these cool things in my social circle. I just moved on pretty quickly.
I have my own https://tt-rss.org/ server for following sites.
I've been among the earliest adopters of all these cool things in my social circle. I just moved on pretty quickly.
I have my own https://tt-rss.org/ server for following sites.
I consider Cal Newport's philosophy on deep work or deep life to be my guiding light in this area
https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2020/03/17/the-deep-life-some-notes/
It boils down to this - "Choose what you want to do in life. And put deep focus on it."
https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2020/03/17/the-deep-life-some-notes/
It boils down to this - "Choose what you want to do in life. And put deep focus on it."
Of course, like people who prioritize late-night parties and extravaganza, you can choose the glamorous and dopamine filled parts of the internet - instagram, twitter, facebook, whatsapp, etc.
But just remember that it is a party that never ends, unlike your life.
But just remember that it is a party that never ends, unlike your life.
Bottom line is - Are you really putting an effort at making sure your online feeds are feeding you what you want to be fed? Or are you a slave to your digital subscriptions?
