Algorithms foster hive-mind behavior online pushing us towards extremes

News that half of all internet traffic comes from bots continues to fuel the popular conspiracy around the dead internet theory. It can be hard to make sense of the world around us during a time when AI aspires to be more human, and tech leaders appear to be obsessed with turning humanity into cyborgs as they explore transhumanism.

Elsewhere, scientists are creating a nanobot swarm that can be injected into the human body while tech giants are betting on longevity and exploring the moral dilemmas of biohacking.

Trapped in a bizarro world

We live in what increasingly feels like a bizarro world where nothing makes sense, surrounded by confusion and uncertainty. Algorithms and bots appear to be creating hive-like minds that threaten to deepen polarization in society. But conspiracy theories offer a way for us to make sense of it all and regain a sense of control and understanding.

Personalization algorithms and filter bubbles are keeping us locked in a virtual prison cell of the familiar, giving us more of the same of everything. Many believe that tech has already ruined how we enjoy music and ensures everyone remains with their assigned right, left, or conspiratorial mindset.

Nuance and context have all but disappeared as many spend time on online platforms strengthening the opinions of like-minded souls. Distrust in authority figures makes alternative explanations appealing, while confirmation bias leads people to seek information supporting their views.

When facts and fiction collide

Sharing beliefs and observations creates a sense of community. But with many users driven by likes, shares, and securing a viral post, many conspiracies are more misleading than the mainstream media narratives they claim to despise.

The problem with conspiracy theories is that they often mix facts with fiction. By blending credible and non-credible sources, manipulative users can exploit users' concerns while disguising the truth.

For example, the recent arrest of P. Diddy has seen an old conspiracy that pop star Sia was trying to send us all coded messages about Beyonce and the disgraced rapper. A mixture of fact and fiction has seen the post go viral, but the reality is that it's a fake tweet and an old meme.

The trusted news initiative: protector of the public or puppeteer?

The Trusted News Initiative (TNI) was created to protect audiences and users from disinformation. However, the BBC-led consortium of the world's most respected news and tech platforms resulted in accusations of powerful forces clubbing together to promote an Orwellian single version of the truth that allowed governments to promote preferred narratives and silence dissent.

Now is not the time for binary thinking and choosing to believe the BBC or the latest conspiracy theory. To avoid being misled by any entity, we need to up our critical thinking and stop auto-sharing or getting outraged by content designed to manipulate our opinions.

Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace: find better coverage

The SIFT method is a simple and effective way for everyone to critically evaluate information.

S is for Stop: Interacting with online content should be treated with the same caution as a phishing email. Resist the urge to engage immediately and reflect before sharing or reacting. This helps avoid emotional responses and gives you time to assess the content critically.

I is for Investigate the Source: Who created the content? Do they have a narrative to push? Are they trustworthy? Are they experts in the subject or affiliated with a political ideology? Checking the source's background helps ensure you're not spreading misleading information.

F is for Find Better Coverage: If you need clarification on the accuracy of the content, search for additional reputable sources.

T is for Trace the Claim to Its Original Context: Track down where the information originated. If it's an image of a controversial tweet, check if it exists. Often, content is shared out of context, so finding the original source helps clarify the full story and avoid misunderstandings or distortions.

Navigating media bias in the age of bots, algorithms, and spin

There is a massive opportunity to leverage technology to unite people and leverage diversity of thought for collective problem-solving. But it's also essential to recognize the drawbacks of blindly believing in anything delivered to us via bots and algorithms if we get it wrong.

It doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you find yourself on. Whether you consume your daily news on TV, social media, or a daily newspaper, they are all designed to give you more of what you want to keep you watching, reading, and scrolling.

Your news source shapes your views and will drip-feed you a slowly increasing dose of cognitive bias and dopamine feedback loops. Like a broken clock, political parties on the left, right, and center will all be right twice a day. With so much spin and control of the world's media, it's no surprise that it often feels like the difference between a conspiracy and the truth is six months.

Hive mind vs. critical thinking

Be curious and ask yourself what will happen if we continue to hand over our critical thinking skills to algorithms, political parties, media outlets, and conspiracy forums without questioning anything. How do we avoid spending the rest of our days rocking back and forth in our very own personalization prison?

By increasing our self-awareness and taking the time to recognize when we are seeking confirmation bias, maybe we can find a better balance between any group's influence and our individual judgment.

It's time to sharpen our minds with diverse perspectives, including those we disagree with, in a battle against the hive mind. The choice is yours: embrace continuous learning, question everything, or fade into oblivion.