Social Media - What´s their agenda and how to avoid harmful bias? A guide for children, youth and the parents
A case of TikTok & Instagram
The First Impression Trap: TikTok Builds Your Feed in Minutes
TikTok is designed to understand your interests in the first 30–60 minutes. A few videos watched or paused will teach the algorithm what to serve. The problem is the default feed because is:
Woke and extremist socially progressive by default
Often oversexualised (half-naked women or children dancing, too open to sexual topics) or borderline inappropriate (support of the terrorist groups, gender ideology, pro-pedo content)
Politically polarising ("if you disagree, you're a fascist")
The Risks:
Children or users with little critical thinking are shaped by what they're shown
Entertaining content can manipulate opinions and identity
Children or users with little critical thinking are shaped by what they're shown
Entertaining content can manipulate opinions and identity
Instagram: Less Aggressive, But Still a Bubble
Problematic is again the default feed, well not as much as the TikTok's one, but still contributes badly to the development of the personality.
Don't let the default feed to manipulate your kid or yourself!
In general the Instagram's algorithm is softer, but once you watch a few controversial posts, the app can quickly enclose you in (Geo)Political Echo Chambers, e.g. Israel vs Palestine, Europeans vs Immigrants, Woke vs Anti-Woke, simply Them vs Us.
How to Build Your Own Feed:
Deliberately search for healthy topics in the first minutes after creating a new account (e.g. nature, animals, DIY, humour)
Mark "Not interested" on content you don't like, do it always you see something you don't want to see again
Avoid curiousity-clicking on controversial or polarising videos
Use "restricted mode" and parental pairing when it's about kids
Parents, be aware of what you've learned. If your kid wants to start their Social Media account, teach them about what you've learned and help them create healthy, yet interesting feed from the beginning. Let them grow, not regress with the Social Media. They'll be thankful to you later.
Deliberately search for healthy topics in the first minutes after creating a new account (e.g. nature, animals, DIY, humour)
Mark "Not interested" on content you don't like, do it always you see something you don't want to see again
Avoid curiousity-clicking on controversial or polarising videos
Use "restricted mode" and parental pairing when it's about kids
Summary:
TikTok is a powerful influence tool. If you don't actively train your feed, it will reflect the agenda of your first interactions. Instagram is similar but more forgiving.
Education is the key: Children and adults should understand that feeds are not neutral — they are curated and can become ideological traps.
TikTok is a powerful influence tool. If you don't actively train your feed, it will reflect the agenda of your first interactions. Instagram is similar but more forgiving.
Education is the key: Children and adults should understand that feeds are not neutral — they are curated and can become ideological traps.
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