Everything you do or say publicly creates a stream of data. This stream is collected, analyzed, categorized and eventually aggregated into a surface attack for various mind hack viruses.
The biggest part of this attack surface is what we call “identity”.
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How often do we contemplate, or even acknowledge, the alternate identities we craft for ourselves in the digital realm? Since the internet enabled human interactions through a variety of websites and online communities, we've begun shaping parallel personas. To some extent, what we project into the digital sphere is an extension of our personal egos. However, more often than not, our digital self differs significantly from the persona we present to the online world.
My first encounter with social media was on hi5. I'm unsure how many of you had an account there, but I did. Looking back, the only purpose hi5 served was to seek out 'attractive individuals,' share occasional photos, and engage with the people I once considered my community. Hi5, to me, was an alter ego.
Then came the reign of Facebook, which gradually commandeered a significant chunk of my daily internet usage, leaving hi5 to fade into obscurity. I only stumbled upon Twitter in 2015, despite being active on Facebook since 2009. It took eight years for me to realize that Facebook was pure nonsense and a colossal waste of time. Similar to Facebook, I was unknowingly constructing an alter ego in the digital realm. Almost no interaction on Facebook felt genuine. If you pay close attention to many so-called social media influencers, you'll notice that most have meticulously fabricated alternate worlds and personas in the digital realm.
Health gurus aren't as healthy as they portray, spiritual leaders may not be as spiritual as they appear, and many of the renowned crypto traders on Twitter likely don't profit as much from trading as they profess. If you're genuinely making a fortune from trading, you wouldn't need to charge for trading advice or beg for likes and subscribers in every YouTube video.
Unfortunately, we do not inhabit a fair world. I've consistently argued, and will continue to argue, that Hive offers a more transparent platform for human interaction compared to Facebook, YouTube, and many other platforms. Twitter, too, is making strides toward greater transparency with its users, encouraging them to be authentic, express themselves freely, and even earn a buck or two through their profile activities. However, some individuals are still focused on 'tricking the algorithms' to maximize their earnings.
It's all about algorithms, ladies and gents. These algorithms learn from us, shape our digital identities, dictate which products should be advertised in their incessant ads, influence voting and sway public opinion (as witnessed in the current surge of hate and division surrounding the Israel conflict), and much more. The web is far more intricate than many of us believe.
Then there's AI. I read some headlines today about the US attempting to regulate AI, which made me ponder how on earth they plan to accomplish that. I mean, just consider Bitcoin, a mere blockchain, and they claim they can regulate AI. It's a good joke, my friends. AI is like an empty canvas waiting to be painted; we determine what it becomes. Hence, we are somewhat the architects of what could be a valuable asset for humanity in the coming decades, or potentially a menace.
The 'traces and streams of data' collected by technological behemoths are not merely stashed away for a 'just-in-case' scenario. No, sir. Elon Musk has recently made some audacious statements about Twitter. Not only does he intend to transform the blue bird app into an all-encompassing platform that could challenge the current financial system, but he also envisions Twitter as 'the consciousness of the internet.'
How will he achieve this? Well, I suppose AI will play a crucial role in making this vision a reality. As mentioned earlier in this post, AI is shaped by the data we provide, and I believe the tech giants of our time will leverage its potential extensively in the decades to come.
As much as we shape this so-called digital realm through the data we contribute, it also influences us, often transforming us into individuals we may not have envisioned becoming several years ago. I observe how some women resort to prostitution due to social media and related apps, how so-called TikTok and Instagram influencers behave outrageously just for the sake of likes and clicks, and how society has embraced artificiality to 'fit the trends.'
I love making a living through social media, but I would never compromise my integrity or 'fabricate a false image' merely for likes, substantial revenue, or fame. I still believe in authenticity, integrity, love, peace, and in the dignity of men and women (disregarding pronoun-based distinctions). I am acutely aware of the digital footprint I'm leaving behind and the identity I'm constructing in this virtual realm. It's disheartening to witness how deranged the world has become since the advent of social media.
Thanks for your attention,
Adrian