For over a decade, algorithms have quietly reshaped the way we live. By dictating & influencing the content we consume, the ideas we encounter, the type of news we receive, and the products we buy, they’ve woven themselves into the fabric of our daily existence.

But as our lives become increasingly curated, an important question emerges: what are we losing in the process?

Algorithms are masters of specialization. Once they identify a particular interest of ours, be it a genre of music, a type of content, or a specific hobby, they excel at curating experiences that allow us to dive deeper into that zone. On the surface, this seems like a gift. By tailoring recommendations to our preferences, algorithms help us refine our tastes and gain expertise in areas we already enjoy. 

But there’s a catch. Once an algorithm identifies our interests, it works relentlessly to keep us there. The logic is simple: the more we engage with a particular type of content, the more time we spend on the platform, and the more opportunities it has to commodify our attention. This hyper-focus on our established preferences and feeding us endless variations of the same theme, algorithms ensure we remain engaged, but it comes at the cost of variety, unpredictability & growth. 

The algorithm assumes that what we’ve liked in the past is all we’ll ever want, and in doing so, it limits the scope of what we’re exposed to. It’s a subtle form of entrapment, where the walls of our interests grow taller and narrower with each recommendation. 

The question isn’t just whether algorithms are limiting our experiences; it’s whether they’re subtly reshaping our understanding of ourselves. Algorithms don’t just curate content, they curate identity. They shape our sense of self around what we already know and like, leaving little room for growth through exploration. The result is a life that feels safe, predictable, and ultimately smaller than it could be.

But life isn’t meant to be entirely predictable. Growth doesn’t come from comfort, and meaning isn’t found in echo chambers. But the challenge isn’t just to resist the algorithmic bubble but to actively seek out the adventure of the unexpected. 

But the influence of algorithms extends way beyond our screens. In many ways, we’ve adopted algorithmic thinking in our own lives, creating routines, patterns, and preferences that serve as mental shortcuts. We convince ourselves that we enjoy certain ideas, perspectives, and ways of living, and like a well trained algorithm, our minds filter out anything that doesn’t align. Over time, this internal curation system can become as limiting as any digital algorithm, boxing us into familiar ways of thinking and holding us back from the spontaneity that brings meaning and growth into our lives.

We allow ourselves to live in this passive state, guided by the “algorithms” we’ve created in our minds, but it’s beyond these self-imposed boundaries where transformation happens. It’s in the uncomfortable, the unexpected, and the unknown that we encounter the ideas, people, and experiences that truly change us.

Breaking free from these patterns, both digital and personal; requires intentionality. It demands a willingness to embrace unpredictability and seek out what challenges us. When we do that, we not only reclaim the spontaneity that algorithms have diminished but also open ourselves to a richer, fuller & more meaningful life. True growth lies not in the comfort of what we already know but in the experience of exploring what we have yet to discover and allowing it to change us.

_________________________________________

Written by Ben Joshua