I was a victim of propaganda.
My family still are.
It's easy to say, "You could have looked up the facts!" or that "You made a choice!"
But here is actually what happens.
You're an every day, kind, loving citizen who would do anything for your neighbors. You don't go out of your way to hate people, and you're mostly living your life, and not online often or connected a lot.
Then, one day a family member or close friend shares a story with you. 1/x
The story isn't something you would think outrageous. It tells you something a little unbelievable, so you just brush it off as something whacky.
Because you clicked on it, the algorithm has its foot in the door. It sends you another which reinforces the first. Again, it seems whacky, and you mostly ignore it. But you don't realize you've reinforced the algorithm. It goes from a scatter story and slowly becomes a barrage of "sources" from every direction, all saying the same thing. 2/x
"Use Google! Look up the facts!"
Okay, sure. But all these systems are connected, Google has you too. When you do a Google search it knows what you have been looking at and it just reinforces what you are beginning to believe.
You don't get the other story any more.
All of your information is derived from the algorithm telling you what the algorithm thinks you want to read, see, hear, etc.
It slow cooks your brain into a world of belief and you don't know it's happening.
3/x
The best thing to do to is to turn off tracking and also to use a browser that doesn't track you. I use brave browser and have all my Google accounts set to 'do not track' (along with other measures).
There are ways around not being in an echo chamber, but most people don't bother with it, don't know about it, or enjoy the convenience.
I wonder if that's why so many old people get stuck in the algorithm dance? They're less technologically inclined...
I had a friend who I met while traveling who helped me with this immensely a few years ago.
He taught me the things to keep safe while traveling are the same things you should do day to day.
I'm not technic smart, but I have a check list given to me by people who are better than me. 😅
I stay away from Apple and Google, especially.
I know can't escape it all entirely. But I can clean up my own backyard and stay out of the mud.
@quinnsentialOne
It's terrible that tracking is the default. It should be the opposite, but then the companies don't get their user info.
Having musk buy Twitter and all the user data it has amassed over the years should make more people aware of where their info can wind up.
The EU is making strides protecting user data, but the US is too in bed with corporations (especially now that citizens united is running free) to do anything about it.