In Other Words with Dave 

Life’s gotten a lot better since I adjusted my social media algorithms. I was overwhelmed with negative news, people’s opinions, and ads for stuff I don’t need. I changed some settings, and now my feed feels lighter, brighter, and oddly peaceful. It’s amazing what happens when you stop doomscrolling and start hobbyscrolling. 

My formula is simple: less news, more dachshunds and motorcycles. Add in a few home repair experts, and I’m all set. My previous feed was quietly separating families and friends into different groups. Algorithms are like precise little mapmakers, showing who sees what—they identify and categorize your interests and then boost your feed with more of the same. 

Here’s how it happens: You love grilling, so you click, like, and comment on a pork rub recipe. Days later, you find yourself in a conversation with someone who thinks your brown sugar and cayenne pepper ratio is somehow offensive. You’re called a name, you reply peacefully, but suddenly you find yourself in the Facebook fight of your life. You leave the group, and because algorithms monetize disagreements, all you see afterward are ads for grills, meat tenderizers, and BBQ aprons with seriously bad puns. 

Alison has also modified her relationship with social media, but she’s taken the “cold turkey” approach. After giving her family and friends a heads-up, she deactivated her accounts and deleted apps — no news, no scrolling, no rabbit holes. She traded scrolling time for “in real life” projects. So far, so good. We now have a freshly repainted bedroom, and she says my office is next. 

I support her decision. But here’s my dilemma: When my friendlier algorithm finally shows me the Holy Grail of social media posts — a dachshund riding a motorcycle. Who am I supposed to share it with?