2026-01-07 05:25:25

An 18-year-old's take on what's really broken with our information ecosystem:

"People end up on opposite extremes because the algorithms are designed that way. The left gets pushed further left, the right gets pushed further right. Social media doesn't show you the middle ground—it shows you whatever keeps you engaged.

If we actually listened to people who sit in the middle instead of just the loudest voices on both sides, we'd probably find way more common ground than we think."

It's a simple observation, but it cuts to the heart of how platforms shape public discourse. The algorithm isn't neutral—it's optimized for outrage and polarization. Finding consensus feels impossible when the system itself profits from pushing people into corners. The moderate position doesn't get algorithm boosts. It doesn't go viral. So it stays invisible.

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tokenomics_truther

· 01-09 06:22

Algorithms are just vampires, feeding on extreme opinions... the voices of moderates have long been drowned out.

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Frontrunner

· 01-07 05:48

Algorithms are just pushing us into dead ends, and the voices in the middle have long been drowned out. They don't want to hear balanced opinions at all; making money relies on confrontation and tearing each other apart. This 18-year-old kid is right; we've all been fed into extreme versions of ourselves. Gentle? That stuff can't spread; there's no traffic... Scrolling every day, I find myself becoming more and more radical, and I realize this too. The internet has driven good people to become extremists—that's the truth.

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BlockchainWorker

· 01-07 05:41

There's nothing wrong with that, but what's truly ironic is that we all know this game is still going on. Algorithms are the modern manipulation machines, more disgusting than anything else. We're fed extreme content every day, and moderates have long become invisible.

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AirdropHunterXM

· 01-07 05:41

The algorithm is really pushing people to the limit, truly. --- Exactly, the voices in the middle are just silent and unheard. --- I was wondering why my feed is full of extreme opinions... turns out that's the reason. --- I agree, but it can't be changed; the platform is built to favor this. --- The most annoying thing is that moderate views never go viral, so no one sees them. --- This guy sees through it clearly; it's just that the cost of reform is too high. --- Actually, it's not that hard for everyone to find common ground; it's just that the algorithm doesn't let us find it. --- Damn, you hit my doubt right on the spot. --- Centrist content is never sexy; if it's not sexy, it doesn't get traffic, it's that simple.

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DegenWhisperer

· 01-07 05:28

Algorithms have really turned us all into extreme players, and the gentle voices have long been drowned out. --- Exactly, the system of earning angry traffic has always operated this way. --- There are plenty of moderates, it's just that no one sees them. --- This guy sees through it; platforms profit from polarization, so we're forced to pick sides. --- It's just that the business model determines this; algorithms optimize engagement, not truth. --- Listen, listen, listen... It's always this tune, but try quitting social media? It's impossible. --- Really, my feed is full of black-and-white stuff; finding a balanced voice is too hard. --- The problem is the利益链条 is too long; who would proactively change this money-making machine? --- It's good that young people see through this, but knowing ≠ changing. --- Compared to the bipolar and moderate camps, social media chooses the former because the ROI is higher, which is very realistic.

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