We're all individuals, our own selves, despite family connections, ancestry, partners, children and the general population around us; we are us and they are them. Of course, we as individuals, form society as we know it, we're part of something bigger than ourselves and are all connected in some manner be it through family, friendship or professional or social ties, by location, religion and in any number of other ways...But you are you, I am me, and everyone else is them.
I took this image
I was thinking today about how, through technology - computers for instance - each of us individuals see a way to express and demonstrate our individuality; not that I'm on social media, but I know enough to know that a quick glance will underline that point. I was thinking however, that the technology we use to express our individuality is actually causing the opposite to occur in many ways.
Computers, social medias like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and search engines like Google are programed to see who we are, to spot similarities and ultimately connect people with similar thoughts and predilections, likes and dislikes, without us even knowing it's happening mostly. These algorithms learn us and guide us towards or away from particular things and I believe it influences who we are, how we think and act and what may happen in our futures. Each of us is at risk of losing a little of our individuality and I don't think it's a healthy or viable way forward for human beings to lose that freedom of thought and creativity.
I'm so thankful that I am not on any social media and don't spend time scrolling through the internet be it You Tube, news services or shopping sites all of which gather data.
My partner doesn't do it either and, instead, we have measures in place to actively prevent the gathering of our online presence and habits. It's the same with the media in general, we shy away from it, "news and current affairs", as it's leaned towards implanting thoughts, propaganda, and to lead a person into a particular behavior and that can slowly nibble away at a person's individuality.
Becca 💗