Escape the Algorithm
Finding my voice beyond social media
The Keyboard Cowboy
Ever since the early days of Prodigy, my online life has centered around engaging with others. Social media became a big deal with “Web 2.0,” but online engagement existed well before that, and I was there. Before there was “scrolling,” you would refresh the page, and each refresh brought a mix of trends and divisive debates. Engaging in controversial trending topics to gain followers and notoriety was a sport where I could share my feelings and influence others on culture, politics, economy, etc., in short, 100-mph increments. The short form came easily to me and felt natural. I always have something to say about everything and enjoy expressing ideas that prompt people to think and engage. I used to say, “I’ve been arguing on the Internet since before it was the Internet.” Many friends, family members, and former workmates have undoubtedly witnessed and sometimes endured this on my Facebook page.
But now, social media has changed, and not for the better. From the early days of the Internet, on IRC and PHP-based online forums, to my original Twitter account, which boasted over 12,000 followers, it always felt like we were arguing back and forth with one foot firmly on the ground regarding truth and reality. People would see their voices diminished if they were obviously lying or just factually wrong and refused to acknowledge reality. Now, it’s the opposite, with an avalanche of untruths prevailing as long as they align with people’s biases for what they want to hear, and real-life impacts are entirely on display, yet no viable counterarguments are offered to the false narratives and untruths that cause them. Hearing news reporters refer to this period as the “Post Truth Age” was the last straw. That, combined with watching the oligarchs that own these various platforms sit front and center at the president’s inauguration, was enough for me to decide I didn’t want to participate in this anymore.
Shut it down.
So far this year, I’ve found myself barely using Meta, X, or even Bluesky, and I‘ve shut off notifications on my phone for all of them. There has to be a different place where I can be myself and share my thoughts with others without being pulled into a discussion that will make me furious, powered by algorithms and AI-based engagement campaigns that use all of my data.
Shutting down social media phone notifications was a significant change for me, and it had a profound impact. Since I shut off notifications for these apps at the iOS level, they could no longer poke at me every time their models decided it was time to pull me back in. I would only engage when I saw fit; the results were staggering. For example, after a week or two of not participating on Facebook, I would open it, start scrolling, and be either thoroughly disgusted or depressed (or both) in minutes with what was in my feed. What was there wasn’t any different from when I quit. The only difference was how I reacted to what was there. Since I pulled back and started engaging with social media on my own terms, I don’t think many of my sessions lasted more than a few minutes before I’d be running for the exit, asking why I’d even gone back. It says a lot about what these platforms are doing to us.
While yes, I’ve missed a lot of birthdays for people I haven’t seen in 15 years, the hard part about my cold turkey departure from social media is that I haven’t been sharing. The outlet has been closed. The stress and anxiety of “all the things” have been mounting, and nothing has helped me let it go. Entirely withdrawing doesn’t seem like a viable option, either.
“Blogging? For real? What are you going to be, a self-help guru?”
No, I’m not. That said, I once found solace and pride in sharing a simple personal story on Medium about gratitude, a moment of reflection that resonated with readers and was boosted by a curator. That story was a spark that reminded me of the power of genuine connection. Before publishing that article, I questioned my ability to switch from short-form, drive-by engagement to long-form, well-thought-through, well-written articles in a blog format. However, that first piece showed me what was possible.
So now I’m at a crossroads. Stay in my comfort zone of short-form engagement with trending topics, trolls, AI pictures without attribution, and one-liners in the not-so-comfortable disaster that social media has become, or do I shift towards blogging, which will be more friendly on my nerves but more challenging to write and publish in my search for authentic engagement. This longer form is uncharted territory for me. It’s a deliberate leap into a space where I can foster more genuine conversation beyond the “follow me, and I’ll follow you back” culture that too often reduces discourse to a popularity contest. It’s seemingly more work, but potentially, with a bigger payoff, and let’s face it, in today’s online day and age of disinformation campaigns, oligarchs buying both “special government employee” status and the ability to put a message on your phone whenever they want, and fake AI everything, we all need to put in more work to ensure we don’t lose ourselves in the “free” dystopia waiting around the corner.
OK, so let’s go!
I’m seeking to start this shift now because I need an outlet to replace social media. Additionally, starting something meaningful now allows me to evolve it into a part-time gig as I eventually enter retirement, so I won’t be starting from scratch. As I grow older, having a place to explore the beauty in the natural world around us, share lessons from my years of leadership and drive to be a better human, and embrace the power of gratitude will be a significant aspect of my life. I plan to share insights gathered from years of success and stress, and I have plenty of both. Not wholly abandoning my short-form skills, I’d like to merge this blog with YouTube Shorts one day, allowing me to bring video to the things I write about when it comes to nature and outdoors, like hiking trails, quiet fishing spots, and perhaps even the adventure of bow hunting or other outdoor sports. I’ve dabbled a little in YouTube Shorts, and the format suits me, given my short-form roots, where I’m not spending half the day editing a 30-minute video and mixing sound. It’s just honest and raw, and I like that. While starting new things is always hit or miss, I’ve had a few reasonably well-received videos, which is promising. Adding YouTube Shorts to accompany some of my writing will enable me to leverage my short-form strength while still focusing on longer-form writing. I’m hopeful it will be a great match.
This isn’t a Departure. It’s an Arrival.
This switch to blogging isn’t about escaping the world. This is about changing how I choose to engage with it online. It’s about sharing my thoughts and feelings in a way I choose. We always knew (well, some of us did) that we were the product in this “free” social media world. Our data, our pictures, our emotions, our faults, our passions, our locations. That is starting to matter, so I’ve landed here in the blog world with my words, thoughts, and feelings.
I look forward to focusing on what truly matters: thoughtful reflection, genuine creativity, authentic connection, and celebrating life’s simple beauties.
For now, I will try the longer formats of Medium and Substack and see how each goes.
Wherever I go, you can find me at JanoJames.com.
Are you considering changing how you engage with others online? I’d love to hear where you’re headed.