Think you control your social media? You don’t. Algorithms decide what you see, who you hear, and in many cases, what you believe.
Billions of dollars go into tracking your every move, collecting your data, and influencing your opinion. However, it’s possible to escape the algorithmic trap.
From privacy tools like a peer-to-peer virtual private network (P2P VPN) to alternative platforms, let’s take a look at how you can break free.
How the Algorithm Manipulates You
Social media has created possibly the greatest tool ever for misinformation and propaganda. Not necessarily deliberately. But because algorithms optimize for engagement instead of truth, balance, or well-being, they create dangerous side effects.
Echo chambers. Filter bubbles. An ecosystem where outrage performs better than nuance, and emotional spikes keep you scrolling.
Engagement-driven design
The goal of social media is to take up as much of your time and attention as it can. It doesn’t care whether you like what you see, as long as you engage with it. Arguing with someone online is just as time-consuming as scrolling through the content you enjoy.
Personalization
The algorithm is designed to show you more of what you tend to react to. And every video you watch or article you click on surrenders more information. Everything you do on social media is tracked so that you can be served a personalized feed. The goal? To get as much engagement out of you as possible.
Micro-targeting
Ever noticed how often an online discussion these days turns into an argument? The information social media companies collect on their users means they can target them on an individual level. That means they feed you the content you agree with. Your newsfeed looks completely different from that of your friends, never mind strangers.
When we all get different facts, it reinforces our existing biases. The end result is a narrow worldview where everyone is mad at each other.
The Psychological Cost
This is more than just an annoyance. Only seeing what the algorithm shows you has real psychological costs. These include:
- Dopamine feedback loops that lure you into coming back for more
- Addiction-style scrolling behaviour
- Social comparison and anxiety
- Reduced exposure to diverse opinions
How to Escape the Algorithm
Maybe you’ve already noticed some negative behaviours in yourself. It’s not too late to break free. Here’s how:
Diversify Your Inputs
- Follow accounts outside your usual niche
- Read long-form journalism
- Use RSS feeds or newsletters
Disrupt Predictive Tracking
- Log out occasionally
- Clear cookies
- Limit ad tracking permissions
Use Privacy Tools
Platforms use cookies to track you across the Internet, even when you’re not using their app. They use this information to further refine their targeting, and also to sell you products and services.
A secure connection can encrypt your traffic and limit monitoring, especially on shared networks. A peer-to-peer virtual private network, allows you to communicate directly with other users in a decentralized network, making it much harder for social media companies or ISPs to track you.
Try Alternative Platforms
Some social media platforms, like Mastodon and Bluesky, offer decentralized, algorithm-free networks. Even a platform like Substack, though it does use algorithms, focuses more on a direct subscription model. This gives you more control over your feed.
Why Escaping Matters
No one wants to be told what to think. As rational people, we have an obligation to engage with the world as it is. Not as engagement-driven technology wants us to believe it is.
Breaking free from the algorithm allows you to see the truth. It also lets you retain your attention span, improve your mental clarity, and broaden your horizons.
The algorithm isn’t evil. You don’t have to delete social media completely. However, you can change how algorithms shape what you see by making your consumption more intentional, you can break free of algorithmic control for good.
