How Surveillance Capitalism is Shaping Political Participation.

[Junii]

I hope u doing well . I  read an article yesterday about Surveillance capitalism when companies collect and use our data . And it made me think about something deeper that it doesnot just affect what ads we see. It quietly shapes what news we encounter how we feel about certain topics and even who we trust. This means that political discussions we have might be driven by algorithms rather than a fair open exchange. I think we are losing some of the real human connection in political debate.  Do you think this is actually a problem or just a natural direction of a digital society?

Thanks..

[uneng]

It's the direction modern society decided going through. It's not that people are being manipulated, they allowed themselves to be manipulated, because it's the easiest way to go. It's a way they feel part of something bigger, and where critical thinking isn't demanded. The group will turn a blind eye to the internal wrongdoings, while focusing all their energy on point out the wrongdoings of the opposite side.

The brave ones are those who consciously decide going against both sides, as they know both are more of the same, even if it means walking a lonely path where they will be mocked, humiliated or simply despised by most.

[Ucy]

Ad, news, content recommendations should've been based on interest, down to the smallest detail, but they seem to recommend things i'm sure their algorithms, bots or AI know you "dislike" . I suspect this abuse is more common in politics. If you show no interest in a particular topic or  continously "dislike" a politician, a country, region, they would keep recommending them, even in more aggressive manner, probably because you consume something that is connected to them. But if you consume things  that have no connection to a particular person or thing, they will start building the connection in order to get the algorithm recommend them to you. I believe they are this desperate because your attention helps the things or people in the content do well physically/spiritually , depending on how much light you have
If your mind is filled with light and those things get remembered, they start doing well. The benefits of money from ads are insignificant compared to this. They make sure the people or things in the contents get recommended more to minds full of light. I think those at the very top of the system are aware of this and would likely be paying or charging so much to get the right attention from people with enough light.

The more light you have the more desperate they are for your attention. So, they create the connections or start creating new contents on things you are already interested in in order to get you to consume them.

[programmer3666]

Most of these platforms collect our data and then show us content based on what we already like or agree with. So instead of seeing different opinions, we mostly see things that match our own narrow or broader views. For example, on Facebook or TikTok, if you like or interact with certain political posts, the algorithm keeps showing you more of the same. Over time, it can make it feel like everyone thinks the same way, even when that is not true. So instead of open and balanced discussions, people can end up in their own bubble and that can affect how they see politics and other people’s opinions.

[Lida93]

Most of these platforms collect our data and then show us content based on what we already like or agree with. So instead of seeing different opinions, we mostly see things that match our own narrow or broader views. For example, on Facebook or TikTok, if you like or interact with certain political posts, the algorithm keeps showing you more of the same. Over time, it can make it feel like everyone thinks the same way, even when that is not true. So instead of open and balanced discussions, people can end up in their own bubble and that can affect how they see politics and other people’s opinions.

Yeah I have being observing this technique with the social media platforms and it's just a way to keep balance and not make for chaos with conflicting opinions and perspectives especially when what you disagree with always finds your way to you on each feeds. So this is done in a way that everyone is happy with what they see because it's what they love to want to see always.

Many people in our societies today have lost the taste for critical thinking and rational evaluation on issues, trends and discourses. And it has become too easy for those behind the scenes to provide each and every  one with only what they want to see and hear.