GoKawiilEssay warns algorithmic feeds on YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn and Reddit are hijacking user attention
A new essay argues that platforms like YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn and Reddit increasingly control what users see rather than letting them choose, citing doomscrolling recommendations, AI-generated filler music, sponsored opinions on LinkedIn, and bot-driven discussions on Reddit. The piece uses the 'Tetris effect' to illustrate how sustained, algorithm-driven focus reshapes thought patterns without users' explicit consent.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
As recommendation engines increasingly mediate what people watch, hear, and read, control over attention translates into control over belief formation and decision-making at scale. The essay's examples—AI-generated music replacing royalty payments, and bots replacing genuine community opinion—point to a broader erosion of authentic human-curated content across major platforms.
- Algorithms on major platforms often prioritize engagement over user intent, inserting unrelated or emotionally charged content.
- Genuine human-made content is being displaced by AI-generated filler and inauthentic voices, from music to online discussions.
- Sustained exposure to algorithmically curated content can reshape thought patterns, similar to the psychological 'Tetris effect.'
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Published there as: “Attention is all you have”
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