You open your laptop, planning to quickly get something done – and suddenly you’re caught in a whirlpool of notifications, videos, posts, and recommendations. One click leads to the next, and before you know it, half an hour has passed. Sounds familiar? That’s no coincidence. It’s by design.
How Algorithms Steer Our Attention
Almost every digital service we use today is algorithmically personalized. Some platforms do it better, some worse – but the principle is always the same: content is arranged in a way that maximizes user attention.
Sometimes this happens through obvious mechanisms like advertising. More often, though, it’s subtle: content that generates lots of clicks, likes, or interactions is pushed to the top. Why? Because it keeps us on the platform longer – which makes ad space more valuable.
Our attention is the price we pay, even when a service appears “free.”
The Problem with Extreme Content
Things get especially tricky when these “engaging” pieces of content are extreme – politically, emotionally, scientifically questionable, or simply distorted.
Such content performs well because it triggers strong reactions. But it comes with side effects:
- It distorts our perception of reality.
- It fuels polarization.
- It pushes people into algorithmically curated filter bubbles.
- It is deliberately used by extremist political groups to amplify their messages.
With the rise of AI‑generated content, the problem is getting worse. AI doesn’t necessarily make content better – but it makes producing content faster. That leads to more content, more personalization, and more algorithmic amplification.
The Digital Services Act: A Way Out for EU Users
At least in the EU, there has been an important development since August 2023: the Digital Services Act (DSA).
It requires major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (Twitter) to give users a choice:
- Content must be viewable without personalized algorithms.
- A neutral, non‑personalized view – often chronological – must be available.
- Personalized recommendations cannot be forced.
- Platforms must disclose how their recommendation systems work.
The option is often well hidden, but activating it is worth it.
A Self‑Experiment Worth Trying
Try this:
- Measure your screen time on a social media platform for one week.
- Then activate the non‑personalized view (unfortunately not available everywhere, but major platforms are required to offer it).
- Use the platform this way for one month.
- Measure your screen time again.
I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m confident:
You’ll spend less time there – and the content you consume will be more intentional and more productive. Without algorithmic suggestions, you have to search for things yourself again instead of being passively guided.
And Outside the EU?
Even if you live outside the EU or use a service that offers algorithmically curated content but doesn’t fall under the DSA rules for very large platforms, you’re not entirely at the mercy of recommendation systems. Many platforms — large or small — now provide ways to reduce the influence of their algorithms. In many cases, you can switch to a chronological feed, mute recommendation‑heavy sections, or disable certain tracking features in the settings.
You can also further limit algorithmic influence by regularly clearing your activity history, turning off ad personalization, or using browser extensions that hide recommendation panels and similar interface elements. For services that aren’t covered by the stricter DSA requirements, these steps can be especially valuable, since you don’t have a legal right to non‑personalized feeds.
None of these measures fully replace the protections mandated for very large platforms under the DSA. But taken together, they can noticeably reduce how strongly algorithms shape what you see — and help you regain more control over your attention.
Checklist
- First measure your screen time so you can clearly see how much time you regain later.
- Disable personalized feeds to reduce distracting content.
- Activate a chronological or neutral view for more relevant and less extreme posts.
- Use the platform for one month without algorithmic recommendations.
- Compare your screen time afterward – you’ll notice you have more time and get better content.