# Digital Feeds

BRAIN ROT ON TAP

It’s called a “feed”. The imagery tells the story. Where livestock get their fill.

• The feeder knows something must go in.
• The consumer relies on something to satisfy its cravings.

something

These are the economics of digital feeds too. Your podcast, YouTube, TikTok or xyz feed.

The creator must create something. Algorithms reward consistency.

Not something they need to say, but the need to say something.

The consumer goes to the feed to consume, in kind.

No need for something. A need for anything.

The need to output, and to input. Worthwhile: a secondary motive.

A conveyorbelt economy.

fill

The phrase “content” is illuminating.

It means nothing in particular. Meaning isn’t a pre-requisite for the content coneyor.

The absence of nothing.

ProleFeed

In 1984 Orwell desribes “prolefeed”: an endless stream of information designed to pacify the minds of the public.

Are we choosing pacification now.

Never go to the supermarket hungry

You will choose too much of the wrong things.

When you go to your digital feeds bored, you will show the discernment of the hungry sow.

If you must connect yourself to digital feeds, do so ahead of time. Make a list of things you genuinely care about consuming. When you’re bored, head to this pre-curated list.

DOOM scrolling

The feed is infinite now. What are you looking for?

Tech for Bad

Users are poorly served by this model.

You can’t compete with the money driving it.

It is addictive for its own sake.

Quit the feed.