How to Detox Your Algorithm for a Healthier Mindset
Nwanne Onwunzu
At first, the source wasn't apparent, but the impact was undeniable. When life felt off-kilter, I began to question the nature of the content I consumed daily. If I was honest, it was mostly worthless gossip. I deal with real-world issues all day in the realm of finance and business - some Real Housewives sass was the mind numbing, petty mess that I used to unwind. Nothing wrong with that - but I relied on this escapism too much. Soon, I realized that the drama and pettiness I watched were mirrored in my interactions with people around me. This introspection revealed a profound truth: the content we immerse ourselves in doesn't just pass through us—it shapes us. It wasn't mere coincidence; it was a clear manifestation of the principle that what we soak into our ears and saturate into our eyes permeates our hearts and manifests in our lives.
This understanding points to the need for a 'digital diet'—a conscious choice to engage with content that enriches and uplifts, rather than content that drains and dispirits. It's about recognizing the subtle yet significant ways digital content influences our emotions and behaviors, and taking action to align our media consumption with the kind of life we aspire to lead.
Why It's Important
For Black women, detoxing our algorithm is a critical step towards mental wellness and empowerment. The digital realm often magnifies voices and narratives that don't reflect the diversity of our experiences or honor our challenges and triumphs. Here’s what an algorithm cleanse can do for us.
Combatting Stereotypes and Bias: Algorithms can perpetuate stereotypes and biases by promoting content that reinforces negative narratives. By detoxing your algorithm, you can limit exposure to such content and instead champion narratives that uplift and celebrate the multifaceted nature of Black womanhood.
Enhancing Mental Health: Frequent exposure to negative or stereotypical content can harm mental health. Detoxing aids in curating a digital space that fosters positivity and well-being, crucial for building resilience against everyday racism and sexism.
Supporting Black Creators: Detoxing your algorithm also means shifting towards supporting Black creators and businesses, bolstering the economic strength of Black-owned enterprises and fostering a supportive community.
Promoting Authentic Representation: Engaging with content that authentically represents Black women influences popular trends on social platforms, potentially encouraging mainstream media to embrace more inclusive narratives.
How to Detox Your Algorithm
Audit Your Consumption: Reflect on your digital habits. What platforms do you frequent, and what content appears most often? Does this content enrich your life and self-image, or detract from it?
Curate Intentionally: Seek out and follow accounts by Black women and other marginalized voices that align with your values and offer diverse perspectives. This doesn’t just diversify your feed; it also modifies the algorithm to highlight these voices.
Engage With Purpose: Your likes, comments, and shares guide the algorithm. Use these tools to favor content that positively reflects your identity and values.
Use Platform Tools: Employ features like muting, unfollowing, or reporting to control what appears in your feed, tailoring your social media environment to your preferences.
Schedule Regular Check-ins: Periodically reassess your feed to ensure it continues to align with your personal and community-oriented goals.
Educate and Advocate: Share your journey and the importance of detoxing algorithms with your community. Through education and advocacy, you can empower others and amplify the collective impact on algorithm evolution.
Detoxing your algorithm is more than securing a healthier digital environment; it's about creating a vibrant, supportive real-life community. For Black women, this is a movement towards a digital and real world that truly sees, hears, and values them.
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Beautiful Black women laying on the couch looking at her cellphone.
