Networks are designed to extract data and influence behavior from "summary" of Program Or Be Programmed by Douglas Rushkoff
The internet is not just a tool we use; it is a medium that shapes our thoughts and actions. When we log on to a network, we are entering a space that has been carefully designed to extract data from us and influence our behavior. Every click we make, every search we perform, every interaction we have online is recorded and analyzed to better understand who we are and what we want. The algorithms that power these networks are not neutral; they are programmed to prioritize certain information and perspectives over others. This means that the content we see online is not a reflection of objective reality but a curated version of it. We are presented with a distorted view of the world that reinforces our existing beliefs and biases, making it difficult for us to see things from a different perspective. In this way, networks have the power to shape our thoughts and actions without us even realizing it. Our behavior is subtly manipulated through targeted advertisements, personalized recommendations, and carefully curated news feeds. We are nudged in certain directions, encouraged to consume certain products, and persuaded to adopt certain beliefs. The more time we spend online, the more data is extracted from us, and the more our behavior is influenced. Our every move is tracked, analyzed, and monetized by the companies that control these networks. We are not the customers of these platforms; we are the product being sold to advertisers and marketers. If we are not aware of the ways in which networks are designed to extract data and influence behavior, we risk being programmed by them. We become passive consumers of information, blindly accepting whatever is presented to us without questioning its validity or considering its implications. To avoid being programmed, we must become more conscious of the ways in which networks shape our thoughts and actions, and actively resist their influence.
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