Reclaiming My Life from Technology: Stepping Back from the Algorithm
At 30, I've realized the internet isn’t what it once was. Growing up, being online meant proudly identifying as a nerd, forming genuine friendships through forums, games, and self-hosted servers. It was a community built around passion, not profit.
Today, algorithms dominate our digital lives, prioritizing outrage and endless scrolling over meaningful interactions. Social media and platforms like YouTube push promotional content, burying posts from friends I genuinely care about. Even gaming, once about enjoyment and camaraderie, now feels overly competitive and validation-driven.
Yet I find myself caught in the algorithm too, spending far too much time online, despite no longer truly enjoying it. Reflecting on the Chinese term Jishu (技术), meaning technology, I've recognized it’s time for a change, not by trying to reconnect digitally, but by consciously stepping away.
My new goal is clear: spend more time offline and use technology intentionally, as a practical tool rather than a source of distraction and dissatisfaction.
This blog marks the beginning of my journey toward reclaiming control from technology and rediscovering life beyond the screen.