Algorithms shape what we hear, but are we really listening? From mixtapes to Discover Weekly, I reflect on how passive consumption is changing our connection to music and why it’s time to take control
But the conscious consumption of media really did. Over the last year (and into the new year) I’ve really been thinking about apps that feel like adult pacifiers to me (Instagram, X, Reddit) with their algorithmically driven feeds that you can’t remember what you saw yesterday, and have been trying to be more mindful of what I’m consuming (physical books, less news focused podcasts, some substacks).
But I would like to offer a little counter perspective for sending/sharing Instagram reels :) like sharing music, it has similar elements of “here’s something I think is cool, which I think you’d think is cool”. the little comments and hyperspecific memes allow me to connect with old friends and new, but definitely shouldn’t replace actual conversing, or heaven forbid meeting up in-person (which we’re doing A LOT less of apparently).
As a decidedly much more casual music listener than those around me (my little brother has a music blog here: https://open.substack.com/pub/kaizhang?r=m0sw2&utm_medium=ios) the mixtape part was super cool but didn’t resonate with me as much.
But the conscious consumption of media really did. Over the last year (and into the new year) I’ve really been thinking about apps that feel like adult pacifiers to me (Instagram, X, Reddit) with their algorithmically driven feeds that you can’t remember what you saw yesterday, and have been trying to be more mindful of what I’m consuming (physical books, less news focused podcasts, some substacks).
But I would like to offer a little counter perspective for sending/sharing Instagram reels :) like sharing music, it has similar elements of “here’s something I think is cool, which I think you’d think is cool”. the little comments and hyperspecific memes allow me to connect with old friends and new, but definitely shouldn’t replace actual conversing, or heaven forbid meeting up in-person (which we’re doing A LOT less of apparently).
I agree, it's all about how we use the tools!