In fact, the answer to these questions shows how successful social media companies are in directing our perceptions. By combining algorithms, data analysis and the power of psychology, we unintentionally shape our beliefs, preferences and even our feelings.

Come, let’s look at how this magical and a little scary world works.

Algorithms: Magicians who know everything

The biggest weapon of social media platforms, algorithms. These algorithms aim to provide a personalized experience by analyzing the behavior of each user.

If you like a few cats on Instagram, the algorithm assumes that you are a “cat, and you see more cat content. So how is this?

Algorithms; It follows your liking, your comments, your shares, and even how much time you spend in a shipment. By analyzing these data, it emphasizes the contents that you think will interest you. So everything you see is not random, it is a completely special choice for you.

However, this creates a “filter balloon .. You only see content that suits your interests, which can narrow your world view.

For example, if you always see content related to a certain political view, you may start to look at the other perspectives with time. Algorithms are not aware of it in a “echo room”.

Data analysis: Every click has a meaning.

Social media companies; It records each click, shift and appreciation. These huge piles of information are processed with data analysis procedures and a detailed profile about you is created.

For this reason, the advertisement of precedent works after you liked a work on Instagram. It’s not a coincidence, it’s a result of the data analysis.

The data analysis follows not only what you like, but also when you are active, what emotional you are, and even whom you interact with.

If you consume more emotional content in the evening, the algorithm can use this information to offer you more emotional content at that time.

This allows you to spend more time on the platform because it is valuable for social media companies. The more time you spend, the more ads you see and contribute to the revenue of the platform.

Psychology: They are aware of our weaknesses.

Social media companies know human psychology very well. In particular, they have discovered how to activate the reward mechanism of our brain.

When you like a post or watch an image, your brain secretes a hormone called dopamine. This hormone makes you feel happy and encourages you to repeat this behavior. Social media always triggers this mechanism and creates addiction.

They also use our “social approval” requirement. The more likes and comments come to a post, the more the cost of the post is increasing and we want to consume it. This always pushes us to remain active on the platform.

Likewise, “Fear of Missing Out), which is, is a spiritual effect that social media frequently uses. Always the desire to follow the actual content connects us to the platform.

Conclusion: To be aware of the first step.

Social media companies; Algorithms are quite successful in directing our perceptions by combining data analysis and the power of psychology.

However, we need to recover the control in a awareness of this situation. We can be a more conscious user by questioning what we consume, how much time we spend and how these platforms affect us.