The Downward Spiral of Content

I hate what social media has become. The endless stream of AI-generated slop, the disturbing trends like LLM-generated cats being tortured, the Italian Brainrot videos - it's all so cringe and devoid of meaning.

Platforms like TikTok, Douyin, and YouTube Shorts have perfected an algorithm that knows exactly how to waste my time. I go in for a quick break and emerge hours later, having consumed nothing of value.

The Manipulation is the Point

The design is intentionally addictive. Swipe to continue, like one of Skinner's pigeons conditioned to peck at a lever for pellets. We're being programmed to consume mindlessly.

Even the so-called "useful" content is trash. Those life hack videos? Impractical solutions using cheap plastic bottles that would look terrible in real life. Hours wasted creating something destined for the garbage.

The Shock Value Trap

I hate being shown shocking content against my will - car accidents, animal cruelty, fake kidnapping videos. The platforms know outrage keeps us engaged.

Equally disgusting are the bait-and-switch videos - thumbnails and openings suggesting sexual content that turns out to be completely different. It's all about tricking our lizard brains into watching.

Reclaiming My Time and Mind

I have goals to achieve. A life to live. These apps are turning us into zombies, conditioning us to crave the next dopamine hit from content that offers no real value.

The format is manipulative by design. The infinite scroll, the autoplay, the algorithmic curation - it's all engineered to maximize engagement at the cost of our attention spans and mental health.

A Call to Resist

I would strongly discourage anyone from using these short-form video apps. The swipe-to-continue model is psychological warfare against our ability to focus and think deeply.

It's time to break the cycle. Delete the apps. Reclaim your attention. Your future self will thank you.