I turned off my algorithm for 24 hours. Is this how social media used to be?
A writer used a little-known Instagram feature to disable their algorithmic feed for 24 hours, testing what chronological, unfiltered social media felt like before recommendation systems took over. The experiment came as Australia announced regulatory reforms targeting social media platforms.
Why this matters: Algorithms decide what you see, in what order, and for how long. Most people have never used social media without one. That matters because the feed is not neutral — it is built to keep you engaged, and engagement often means outrage, envy, or anxiety. Turning it off is a small act, but it makes visible something most platforms work hard to keep invisible: that you are not really the customer. You are the product being optimized.
Who should care: AI governance · Lawyers · Administrators · General readers · Policy · Privacy officers
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