On Algorithms

Just recently I've been directed down, or shown some interesting rabbit holes conspiracy-wise. On the internet, that is. Literally in the last couple of days, things have gone a bit bonkers with the links and stuff that Facebook, YouTube and the like have started showing me. 

Now, of course some of the shit I look at and say online might bring one to conclude that's the sort of thing that might push me over the edge and radicalise me. But I'm a bit more complex than that. 

But I can see how, if you're not savvy to this sort of attempt at manipulation, you could be going down some very dark paths. 

The thing is: Is it algorithms guiding your path and it's all a result of zeros and ones doing their thing, or is it human manipulation?

And why all of a sudden? Literally, this week. 

I know I've been up North over the weekend and scarily for some people I've been in the exact area where a hotly contested by-election is to be held. 

But this week, most of my usual favourite watch list stuff has been replaced. 

Makes you wonder if my phone was close to another phone and someone put two and two together and got five. 

But it does show you there is a huge element of manipulation going on when it comes to the content the algorithms offer up to you and the information that's collected in the background doesn't always produce a benign result like showing you more of the content you like.

There seems to be a hint at manipulation with this latest tranche of content. Obviously so. Someone or something is using hobnail boots and isn't at all subtle.