I’m really digging it over there. It’s where you can find all my stuff in one spot, and you’ll get my new writings seen straight. No algorithm trying to get in the way. Just me, writing for you AND myself.

My Writings, My Rules: Why I’m Not Chasing the Algorithm

“But aren’t fewer people seeing your writings? Doesn’t that matter?” – you might ask.

And honestly, it just feels like the same old worry, just dressed up for our social media world. Back in the day, writers stressed about publishers or editors. Then it was bookstores. Now? It’s the algorithms.

We’ve always had these “gatekeepers,” right? The only thing that’s changed is what they look like. They used to be suits. Now they’re, like, lines of code.

Back in ’00’s, when social media was still figuring itself out, the promise was simple: anyone could reach anyone. No more annoying middlemen! But over time, these platforms totally rebuilt those middlemen, except now they’re these mysterious algorithms that care about how we act on the app, not if our stuff is actually good or meaningful.

So, what’s this algorithm’s deal? What does it actually care about? It cares about one thing: keeping your eyeballs glued to the screen.

But here’s the kicker: that’s not what I’m after. I want attention that sticks. Platforms, though? They want attention that just loops. They want you scrolling, tapping, reacting, and basically living inside their app.

The algorithm isn’t trying to read your deep thoughts. Nah. It’s busy checking signals: how long you stare at something, how your thumb swipes, the ratio of likes to views. It boosts stuff that looks like other popular stuff. And eventually, everything starts looking the same. Not ’cause people are boring. It’s ’cause “sameness” is just safer, more predictable, and the algorithm loves it.

The platform literally can’t tell the difference between a killer essay and some wild clickbait headline. It can’t reward depth because it can’t measure depth. So, it goes for triggers, outrage, stuff you already know. Anything that gets a quick tap, no matter what happens after.

So, yeah, my reach probably is low ’cause I stopped trying to feed that beast. And honestly? I’m totally cool with that.

‘Cause I’m not writing to “win the feed.” I’m writing for folks who are still down to stop, to read, to actually think. The algorithm isn’t some wise-guy critic; it’s just a sorting machine. And a pretty basic one at that.

So, if my writing doesn’t pop up in your feed, I’m not bummed. I kinda saw it coming. That’s why I’ve always made sure to gather my thoughts and put them on the website – a spot where they won’t get messed with by some machine trying to control your scrolling thumb.

So, if you’re reading this, and you’re tired of an algorithm playing bouncer for my posts, you can bookmark my website.

I’m really digging it over there. It’s like my own little independent hangout, a cozy digital studio for creative types. It’s where you can find all my old stuff in one spot, and you’ll get my new writings sent straight to your inbox. No algorithm trying to get in the way. Just me, writing for you. And myself.

Photo credits: zestythings.com