Algorithms – A Cultural Cancer

Algorithms – A Cultural Cancer
By Stephen Doherty
September 21st, 2025

Today’s internet is rapidly evolving from a marketing and information mecca – to the darkest of places for an increasing number of lonely, vulnerable, and disassociated individuals – mostly young men. Worse, 40% of the global economic juggernaut is now driven by a handful of trillion-dollar tech companies with one over-arching objective – driving commerce by influencing our actions via influencing our behavior.

In short, getting ALL of us to “click” on this, that, and the other. Unfortunately, the #1 driver of clicks to commerce these days is not sex – it is rage and fury. And our society and culture are growing increasingly dangerous and unstable as a result.

I’ve been amused, entertained, and somewhat annoyed at the internet’s ability to “customize” what it feeds to me based on my history, search interests, tendencies, and personal choices – that are tracked and mapped and then pumped through algorithms so powerful, that it feels as if social media knows me better than I know myself.

As a result, I have purchased many products and services that I never knew existed, because – over time, every aspect of social media conspired to saturate my browsing experience with titillating reminders of how much better my life would be with just one more click … and my credit card.

This is marketing on steroids as the individual nature of messaging has been refined to an incredibly efficient science. Interestingly, most of the items I’ve bought – I’ve really enjoyed – perhaps due to the level of familiarity and customization the algorithms bring to the buying equation.

I am also an engaged consumer and purveyor of a broad spectrum of current events and political news and commentary. I don’t know if it’s occurred recently, gradually, or simply that current events have brought it to the forefront of our respective psyches – but today, virtually every headline seems to contain some measure of emotional “trigger” apparatus specifically designed to tap into our respective anger, rage, and fury. Click bait! It’s what’s for dinner ..and it’s what drives the internet.

It still has a marketing component – but via the complexity and sophistication of the algorithms, we get to the buying showroom via a labyrinth of emotionally charged stories whose sole purpose is to illicit intense emotional reactions. Now, I still end up with a new gadget – but I’m also pissed off at something or somebody because of the story I read on my way to the on-line department store.

Algorithms are designed to serve users more of what they like and interact with, which often results in people being shown content that aligns with their existing beliefs. Over time, this reinforces opinions, polarizes communities, and limits exposure to diverse perspectives.

In politics, for instance, people on opposing sides of an issue may end up living in completely different information worlds, each believing the other is misinformed or delusional. This undermines democratic discourse and fosters division in society. It also creates dangerous and anti-social echo chambers where participants live within the narrowest confines of emotion and ideology.

Perhaps most alarmingly, algorithms are increasingly used to manipulate public opinion. Through microtargeting and persuasive design, users can be subtly nudged toward certain products, ideas, or political stances without even realizing it. This raises ethical concerns about autonomy and consent.

When people are unknowingly influenced by algorithmic suggestions, their ability to make independent decisions is compromised. For most of us, that can be annoying and compelling – but for the growing legions of mentally unstable young people, it can be the catalyst for extremism and radicalization.

In addition to speeding up public discourse, media polarization has also allowed geographically dispersed citizens to isolate themselves into virtual factions, which today we call echo chambers, communicating only with like-minded individuals and reinforcing shared beliefs. Far from being a conduit for considered opinions by an educated elite, social media platforms spread misinformation and inflame partisan differences.

As new technologies allow virtual mobs to form instantaneously, they encourage citizens and representatives to define themselves by their membership in red or blue bubbles rather than by their independent deliberations about what the public interest requires. As likes and retweets based on emotion take the place of complicated arguments based on reason, we are seeing public opinion heated and fractured in ways the Founders most feared.

In conclusion, while internet algorithms have the potential to enhance user experience and efficiency, their unchecked use poses serious threats to our mental health, society and culture. From spreading misinformation to undermining democracy, the risks are profound. It is essential to confront these dangers now to build a healthier, more informed, and more equitable digital future. And if you come home and open your garage door – and your vacuum cleaner is fiddling around with your lawnmower with a screwdriver … RUN! Skynet has gone live.

“The internet is a dangerous place. If you are not careful it will consume you and rob you of your happiness. It can make you angry, jealous, hostile, bitter and lead to the eventual loss of enthusiasm for living your best life. Be wary and avoid overconsumption.” -Germany Kent