Whatever its etymology may reveal, it remains revealing that what flows through my social media apps is called my “feed.” From the constant sight of all of us looking down at our phones, at our sites, it seems we’re all plenty hungry. We gorge ourselves on, what? While the internet as a whole might seem like an endless buffet, we don’t really choose what comes into our feeds. That’s been decided for us.
By whom? For what purposes? I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never asked those questions before. I’ve noticed of late a rather thin band of themes. News and opinions about the Pittsburgh Steelers is listed first in my feed’s ingredient list. Next is angry screeds against the doctrines of grace. Finally, various backs and forths among Christian nationalists who only want white people in their family photos and those who welcome color.
On the one hand it all makes sense. I am, year-round, deeply interested in all things Steelers. Likewise I’m deeply committed to the doctrines of grace. The last one, I suspect, is the fruit of the reality that I believe Jesus reigns over all things, and have an interest in politics. On the other hand, perhaps even more than my interest, what these things all have in common is that they are things people argue about vociferously. While the algorithm may have limited power to make me think what it wants me to think, it has great power to make me think what I think about.
The algorithm isn’t merely providing things I’m interested in. It provides things people curse each other over, that I’m interested in. And that part, frankly, I have little interest in. It’s what annoys me about my feed, the ingredient in my diet that gives me heartburn.
Is there a way, I wonder, to feed on my feed and find my heart warmed?
I used to get regular insights from CS Lewis. In days past I got gentle humor from the Church Curmudgeon. I used to get biblical nuggets of wisdom from Matt Smethhurst. My feed fed me with insight from my friend, David Murray. I used to get updates from people I actually know and care about. You know- friends. Can I find my way back there?
I don’t know if the algorithm responded to me, or if it is trying to get me to respond. Did I click on these arguments in the past, and now it thinks it’s what I want? Or, did it just assume, because there is so much arguing on social media that that’s what we all want? Controversy breeds clicks. Hot takes make for hot follows. None of which is healthy for us. If we are what we eat, I need to feed on something better.
Perhaps the goal ought not be healthier feeds. Maybe such is thinking a diet soda can make up for the double cheeseburger and fries. Perhaps instead what I need to do is live on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). Maybe I ought to be engaging more with the Word.