To whom it may concern,
I am writing a short letter to you to explain a concept that you might be seeing numerous times throughout this newsletter: The Algorithm™1. Supposedly, I was planning to have the second half of the bi-monthly letter thing we have as scheduled from my introductory post, but I believe that you should be familiar with this one before we get on to it.
At this point, you have a common knowledge of what the algorithm is2. However, we are not talking about that algorithm. However, we are not talking about that algorithm. What I am referring to is the algorithm we have on social media. The algorithm there works in various ways for every social media app—Those from Facebook and Instagram are inclined to work with the algorithm to send you relatable stuff you can spend money on3. Twitter and Tumblr curates your home page experience by showing you relatable content based on what you tweet/retweet/reblog, sans the posts from those you follow on their platform. TikTok is a whole level of unhinged4, but everyone has that #fyp tag on their posts in the hopes that algorithm will be kind to them.
Where am I going with this exactly? Right—this is a newsletter on navigating through life and not going on uninteresting tech stuff. This shitpost sums this letter’s point up:
T/N: That’s not a sign from the Lord. That’s The Algorithm™.
Simply put, The Algorithm™ is the divine forces that works beyond the human control. It might be the one driving your subconscious to do certain actions. Those with Abrahamic faiths may call it a “Sign from God” or a mashallah moment; those into witchcraft may say it’s the universe providing and making ways for us. For me, however—that’s just The Algorithm™ doing its work.
When it comes to the things concerning the divine, I am not dismissive about it the way agnostics and atheists are. I recognize that there’s a higher being(s) out there, but our understanding of their existence is beyond human comprehension5.
Similar to how the algorithm works in social media sites; we, too, are under The Algorithm’s™ experience and control. On my end, I have learned how to befriend the algorithms on my main social media platforms—Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Instagram shows me reel tutorials because I have been saving reels in hopes on making my own stylish ones. Twitter’s algorithm picks up on my interests based on what I hyper-fixate on my retweets.
On Facebook, however, I have fiddled with my settings on Facebook so that I would not get targeted ads. This also limits their tracking on my data outside the app6. Instead, I have befriended the Facebook algorithm.
Exhibit A: Prior to me breaking the news of me getting accepted to my Master’s program, these are the “suggested for you” posts that I am getting on my new feed aside from shitposts:
When I was experiencing the freshest moments of my recent heartache, Facebook algorithm tailored its suggested (shit)posts for me:
I can go on and on about the various ways I have befriended the algorithm; and when I saw that Filipino shitposts on how “God’s signs” is just a real-life algorithm, I simply accepted it. We navigate through life in an IRL TikTok #ForYou Page. So far, it worked wonders with me.
Be smart with your life and learn to befriend The Algorithm™. Just as how your feed surprises you with relatable content, you might find hidden gems in real life too.
Do your best and love well,
Aud <3
Yes, it’s a proper noun, to differentiate it from the usual usage of the term.
If you don’t, here’s a TED-Ed video explaining the actual scientific term of the algorithm and its forms.
Don’t hesitate to fiddle around your settings so you won’t get targeted ads, my space explorers.
God forbid, if you’re on the TikTok app, you know exactly what I mean. I can’t begin how to explain that For You Page works. You just know.
To know more about this legitimate Philosophy of God concept, read on Apopathic Theology. I have encountered this concept in my second year of my undergrad, during our Philo-Anthro class. Other RRLs I might suggest on checking out is the concept of via negativa and apophasis.
It’s not a secret that big data is monitoring our activity inside and outside their apps; Facebook and Google are extremely guilty of this. However, I will expound on this on another letter for another time.
As a digital advertising/marketing practitioner I'm aware that algorithms fuel the entire industry. Our online activity and being sets off triggers for which relevant ads (if it's not or plain weird, then the targeting of that ad is just wide) are served to us. Socmed platforms want us to stay longer on their sites by providing us relevant content as they provide ad inventory for which our views and clicks are very valuable. Anyway, it would be a lengthier discussion to delve more on that haha Looking forward to how you will further expound on The Algorithm™!