War against misinformation
I have frequently ranted about the suffering induced by algorithmic news feeds. I'm even rantier in person, I can assure you. I found myself nodding vigorously as I read The war against misinformation is over. The lies won. on The Walrus. It described the problem very succinctly and points to what I hope is the real solution.
The author argues that the billionaire class has hijacked the media and the internet. That they gladly produce misinformation to maximize profit. That they purposely induce rage and despair to achieve their political and financial goals. I think all of this is true. The solution is to walk away from it all.
It is impossible for media to have power over us that we do not give willingly. As compelled as I felt to consume social media, no one was holding a gun to my head. The misery I felt was entirely self-inflicted. I needed only to stop.
That is my impetus for jumping over to the smallweb. This blog is sort of my attempt at being the change I want to see in the world. The less time I spend looking at social media, the happier I am. The constant low-grade existential dread has retreated. I encourage everyone to get an RSS reader and to return to the more personal internet we knew years ago before everything switched to maximization of "engagement." I know I was mostly "engaged" in loathing. I feel like I'm finally escaping that, and there's no way I'm going back.