Chapter 1: The Struggle with Search Algorithms

In the past, I could easily utilize keyword searches to find specific information. I often employed multiple targeted keywords to extract just the right bits of data from various results. Nowadays, however, I feel a sense of defeat before even beginning my search.

I have increasingly turned to Telegram for curated news and social commentary, primarily for two reasons. First, I can choose to follow channels that genuinely interest me rather than being subjected to algorithm-driven distractions. The variety of sources, groups, and personalities available there far exceeds what most search engines can provide.

This shift raises concerns that the internet may gradually reduce to a collection of apps, overshadowing the multitude of individual websites that are currently indexed and searchable.

Second, finding unedited footage on news events through platforms like YouTube has become nearly impossible. Instead, I am bombarded with results from so-called "trusted" sources like CNN, MSNBC, and the BBC. When they do present raw footage, it’s often heavily edited and accompanied by commentary that typically carries a political agenda.

In addition, I regularly check in on various communities to observe how particular news stories are framed and discussed. I often find myself at odds with these groups on numerous issues, but I appreciate their perspectives as they help me refine my own counterarguments.

To cultivate a comprehensive understanding of diverse viewpoints and truths, I prefer to navigate information without algorithmic interference. Sometimes, I seek not just the truth itself but also insight into how that truth is manipulated—whether to empower, disarm, divide, or unify.

At other times, I'm actively searching for misinformation and deceitful narratives. I find value in this exploration and resist the notion that algorithms should dictate my access to information for my own supposed safety. As an adult, I don’t require a digital gatekeeper or an uninvited guardian of truth.

Chapter 2: Seeking Truth Amidst Algorithmic Control

Algorithms should not dictate the nature of information I access; as a discerning adult, I am capable of navigating the complexities of truth and misinformation on my own.