Algorithms are running and ruining lives. Machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, Growth Hacking, User Engagement, Monetisation. Mammon is driving society and disrupting democracies.
It was predicted by DATA in July that Nigeria and a few other countries were going to experience civil unrest – “perfect storm”, as a fallout of the pandemic’s economic impact. DATA predicted that the unrest can last 3 years (God Forbid – Olorun o ni je!!). Everything playing out today is the manifestation of a data model. DATA predicts that if nothing drastic is done to change the model of social media, human beings will self-destruct. (Watch Social Dilemma on NetFlix)
The biggest challenge today is capturing truth in few words, since people will not read long posts. Also, believe it or not, social media doesn’t give you the truth. It curates content for you based on what a third party paid for and what has been discovered is your inclinations. Remember you are a ‘user’, and just like ‘drug users’, you only keep coming back because they know what keeps you high.
What will fuel these unrests?
1. Fake News.
Fake news is no longer obvious. It is normal. As normal as “Protesting for 30 days will get UN’s attention”. This lie was bumped up by accounts with huge followership on twitter and later deleted.
2. Social Media Polarisation.
There will be trans-generational disagreements. 20-year olds and 50-year olds will bitterly clash. Why? Because social media feeds us more of what we want to hear, and we each get high on content that aligns with our biases and gradually take us deeper into extremes. Hence when we meet offline to discuss, young and old look very stupid to each other.
3. Fame over Sane.
It is not only preteens that get self-esteem boosts from being liked, retweeted or followed. Everybody does. Hence the tendency of those who should be speaking the truth to rather pander to what is popular. People who should tell the truth about leadership and the collateral damage possible by leaderlessness would prefer to tell you what you want to hear. They want your likes and follows too, not your angst.
4. Mixed agendas.
Everybody jumps on what is trending, whether they agree with it or not. The same way protests without strong leadership figures to start and stop them will become pawns to people with another agenda. It’s difficult to distinguish those who are not with you from those who are with you, when you don’t have leaders who hold the start and stop buttons.
How to Protect Yourself and Loved Ones?
1. Slowly fact check.
Don’t take any inciting news for it. If you hear news that gets you emotional or steers you to action, delay agreement for 24 hours. Fact check and see the responses.
2. Reduce or delete your social media accounts.
Trust me, they have a hook on us all. And if you don’t have any key source of information outside those channels, you are someone’s robot.
3. Deliberately relate with people who see differently and believe differently.
Your tolerance level for people who are insensitive to your point of view shows you are redeemable. The more intolerant you are, the more you must worry.
4. Feed on the Truth.
More than ever before the truth is not an opinion, and it is not relative. It is not your world view versus my worldview. There is a true north. It may sound spooky to you, but God is the truth. There is a sovereign being that governs this multiverse, and He is relatable and always at work, aligning everything with His will and counsel. He will win, and our best chance of getting out of this life alive is in Him. Whatever or whoever makes you grow in the knowledge of truth, follow.
With Love 💕
From Adeolu Akinyemi
NB: Say a Prayer for Nigeria today! Pray – God, let your will be done here in Nigeria as it is in Heaven.
