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Mental Gecko

The various ways we cope with an increasingly complex and chaotic world. Topics included are psychology, positive psychology and mental health, writing and writing advice, fiction, poetry, maintaining a positive mindset and humor.

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The Algorithmic You: When Platforms Decide Who You Are

7 min readJun 16, 2025

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A few years ago, I noticed something disconcerting: my social media feed was eerily uniform. My news, interests, and even personal values seemed to mirror a narrow digital reflection defined by a hidden hand, an invisible architect quietly building a version of me that was optimized for clicks and likes. What I thought was freedom to explore, to learn, to belong, was increasingly restricted by what I came to call “the algorithmic me.” In essence, I wasn’t simply choosing content; content was choosing me.

At the core of our digital lives today lies a fascinating paradox: platforms that claim to enable us and connect us often end up guiding, influencing, and sometimes confining our sense of self. The impact of this is felt deeply, shaping our emotions, influencing our relationships, altering our beliefs, and even affecting our personal growth. We might think we’re freely exploring a vast online world, but in truth, we’re often walking along narrow, familiar paths, feeling the walls close in. The algorithms behind the scenes curate the content we see, subtly shaping our interests, distorting our perspectives, and…

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Mental Gecko
Mental Gecko

Published in Mental Gecko

The various ways we cope with an increasingly complex and chaotic world. Topics included are psychology, positive psychology and mental health, writing and writing advice, fiction, poetry, maintaining a positive mindset and humor.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D.
Natalie Frank, Ph.D.

Written by Natalie Frank, Ph.D.

I write about behavioral health & other topics. I’m Managing Editor (Serials, Novellas) for LVP Press. See my other articles: https://hubpages.com/@nataliefrank

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