Social Media Has It Wrong

Social Media Has It Wrong

(There are so many different Social media platforms, but, for this Blog I'm going to focus on the big two just to set a example, as not all of these 'platforms' do what these two gigantic platforms do to such an extreme extent.)

Facebook and Google think they know what it is that we want to see.

But, when the human mind is hard wired to direct ourselves onto the 1% negative, then WE end up 'clicking' on the wrong things, and focusing on that damaging 'negative' too much. (Yes, our human brains are hard wired, and have been for thousands of years, a certain way. This is purely because of our 'fight or flight' response.)

Then, we blame Social Media. And, rightfully so, but... only to a certain extent.

What do I mean by that?

The Social Media algorithms are designed to give us more of what we “click” on.

So....

If the algorithm didn't give give us more of what we 'click' on or watch, and gave us more of what we really wanted, then we wouldn't see so much of the negative.

Imagine that you post a picture onto social media. Imagine then, that it gets 100 comments. Out of the 100 comments, 99 of those are positive towards the image, and 1 is negative and dislikes the image. The majority of us will take that 'negative' personally and dis-regard the fact that the 99% majority was positive? (This comes down to the afore mentioned hard wiring within us.)

The Social Media issue is that all of the power that the social media platforms have over what is posted is self reinforcing to make you focus on the 1% because of one simple thing. Money. Profit.

When we overly focus on what is being put directly in front of us by social media, they make more money because of the way the algorithms work 'for them' through the click. Hence the term, “click-bait”.

But, this also comes down to a “chicken and the egg” type of scenario.

The algorithm gives us more of what we click on. But, if we didn't click on it, we wouldn't see so much of it. However, our brains are wired to want to stop and look at that 'car crash'.

So, really, there is a question we should all be asking ourselves.....

Has social media got it wrong, and is social media responsible for how much negativity we see on a daily basis?

Or....

Is it OUR fault because we focus on that 1% and keep clicking on the negative 'posts'?

I believe that it both our fault, as well as Social Media and the algorithms they use.

We are capable of choosing. We can select what we want to see or view. But, we also want public validation, so most people go with the social media 'flow' and end up feeling negative for a lot of the time.

Don't be like 'most people'. Make a choice. Chose the 99% positive, and ignore the minority.

Make the change to how your social media flows on your home page. It's your choice what you want to see. Change 'Your' algorithm so that it presents more of the Positive.

If you do this for one week. If you can resist 'clicking' on, or watching, anything negative on your Social Media, then your 'Feed' will change dramatically.

Make the Choice to make the Change.