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a defence of unintentionality

DD-MMM-YY

intentionality has become a bit of a buzzword, hasn't it? if you're here, chances are you're in the same internet circles as me: spaces that critique the modern internet and the negative effects that it has. i think there's a set of ideas that people have been really into recently, which all kind of have the same theme. here's my best attempt at summarising the current feeling:

  • the internet is bad because it, and the people who use it, is devoid of individual personality. personal style is not valued.
  • our interests used to be curated, because we had to intentionally choose what to do at any given time. now, people's interests follow mainstream trends instead.
  • social media algorithms are bad because we do not have control over what we see, we cannot curate. instead, we are passive, and we see whatever social media giants want to show us.

i'm not here to defend the new internet. instead, i want to argue that this is a bad way of understanding its problems. i believe that by flipping this idea on its head, we might be better equipped to avoid the traps of the current internet and find new paths to fulfilment.

intentionality, curation, personalisation

put some quotes here idk

algorithms are designed to maximise engagement. every time we use an app or a website such as the one described, we make hundreds of choices, which are greedily harvested by the data-hungry companies. when to swipe, when to like, when to go back for more -- all of this is fed back into the algorithm, which develops a pretty good picture of what we each individually like to see.

much ink has been spilled about the echo chamber thing: how social media algorithms lead people further and further into increasingly radicalised sycophantic bubbles. in a political context, the idea that social media gives people an ultra-personalised experience is not controversial. however, when it comes to art, i think this is underappreciated. people who actually use social media for fun often say things like "no no, it's not just slop, it's actually really good once the algorithm figures out what you like." so i don't think it's true that our social media experiences not personalised enough; rather, we have too much power to curate what we see.

therefore, i think the problem we face is not how to make more intentional choices, but how to introduce more outside influences into our lives.

turn up the temperature!

here are some ways i've found to introduce a bit of randomness into the things i see and do. i'd love to hear about what other people do!

general note: some of these methods can give you way too much material, and going through it all would be a huge project. this is where personal taste has to come back into the process -- just look for the things that actually motivate you. it's ok to let things pass you by!

  • recommendations: this one's almost too obvious to need saying, but if friends tell me about any media they're into, i try to ask them why they like it, so that i might get persuaded to try something that usually isn't my type of thing.
  • gifts and borrowing: the same as the recommendations, but these ones are even more fun! if someone gives you something, even if it's not your thing, give it a try!
  • critics: magazines like pitchfork and newspapers with review columns like the guardian can be a great source of recommendations outside of your friendship circle. i just pick out anything that sounds particularly fun.
  • radio: i have a pocket fm radio that i listen to on the bus, but these days there are online radio stations too. i listen to bbc radio and a couple of local stations; it's mostly very mainstream, but i like hearing what's popular with real people near me!
  • charity shops: these are a good source of random CDs and clothes. it's nice to have a limited selection that changes all the time, rather than being overwhelmed with options.
  • old things: if you have some old clothes that have some sort of sentimental value, but don't quite fit with your vibe anymore, keep them anyway! they're now "you vintage", and wearing something a bit less curated every now and then will help you to get over the idea that your fashion has to always perfectly express who you are.
  • trendy things: obviously, careful about the environmental impact here, but it's fun to feel like you're actually part of the current time period and making the most of it. this could mean trying the haircut that's popular right now, thrifting some clothes that lots of other people are wearing, or listening to an artist who has recently become popular.

  • try local activities: try a new hobby that's popular in your local community! i never would have thought of myself as an open water swimmer, but it's a huge thing where i live, so i went all in and it was great. i also did this with squash at my previous university, and a library knitting group when i lived with my parents.

conclusion

social media wants us all in our own little box, and sometimes even if we leave social media, we can keep manually boxing ourselves away. i have spent the last couple of years trying to engage with the stuff i happen to find around me as much as i can, even if it's not always my sort of thing, and i believe that aiming for this can lead to a lot of fun.

until next time,

mzw☆

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