Big Data & Human Nature
In the age of the internet, the vast majority of the information we receive is pushed to us through big data. Moreover, the dissemination of information has become increasingly concise, with short videos being the most favored avenue by capital to capture people’s attention. This method has its advantages and disadvantages. However, for ordinary people who are passively and extensively exposed to information over the long term, research on the longitudinal relationship between short video addiction and depressive symptoms indicates that prolonged and excessive short video addiction poses significant harms to the human body. Additionally, major state media have not raised concerns about the dangers of short video addiction to individuals and families. So why do short videos remain explosively popular today, prompting major apps to flock to this trend?
The Essence of Big Data
Firstly, I believe it is human nature. Human nature tends to seek benefits and avoid harm. The ability to gain pleasure simply by scrolling up and down is exceedingly simplistic, to the extent that even elderly individuals born in the early days of the People’s Republic of China, now in their seventies, can catch up with the wave of the internet.
Secondly, I believe it is addiction. According to the psychological analysis of adolescents addicted to the short video platform “Douyin” (TikTok), the process of watching short videos is akin to an electrocardiogram—it can consistently and variably provide pleasure, allowing individuals to enter a state of flow and lose track of time.
These two factors tap into the fundamental aspects of human nature to capture people’s attention. This is the essence of big data. By deconstructing human nature as a foundation, a set of addictive processes that align with the ecosystem is constructed, causing people to become immersed in the comfort zone built by big data and continuously seek pleasure. This is the fundamental reason why capital eagerly pursues this trend.
How to Break Free from This Situation?
The essence lies in big data controlling the channels and methods of information input. Therefore, by manipulating the information input side, one can free themselves from a life controlled by big data. Next, I will introduce several convenient and effective methods to control information input.
Physical Isolation
According to a presentation by the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, psychologists recommend physical isolation—simply uninstalling the app and leaving no room for retreat, as the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” However, this approach often does not yield the desired effect because when people are bored, they tend to engage in idle thoughts. At this moment, the addictive part of the mind stirs, and ultimately, desire overcomes reason. The easy way to gain pleasure returns and becomes even more uncontrollable.
Redirecting Attention
Engaging in exercise or cultivating hobbies to redirect attention is an excellent method. Whenever boredom strikes and the urge to watch short videos arises, it only requires a small amount of rational decision-making to choose whether to get up and exercise or continue watching short videos. As long as the addiction is not too intense, I believe most people’s reason will prevail over their desire. Once they start exercising or immersing themselves in something they enjoy, they will no longer think about doing other things. This wave of addiction can be overcome by repeatedly resisting the demands posed by human nature and forming habits, allowing individuals to quit the addiction without depleting their rationality.
Changing Information Channels
RSS is a web technology that has been around for 25 years and was globally popular 20 years ago. Now, it has been abandoned by the times, with only a few websites and apps still offering RSS services. However, today, I believe RSS serves as a remedy for people whose minds are unsettled and adrift.
With RSS, you can selectively subscribe to the information you want to follow—whether it’s UP masters on Bilibili or bloggers on Douyin, you can receive notifications through an RSS Reader app whenever there are updates.
As described above, isn’t this just a simple information notification feature? Whether it’s Bilibili, Douyin, or Taobao, you’ll receive notifications when the people you follow release new content. So why should I use RSS?
Why Use RSS?
I believe there are two primary reasons why you need to use RSS:
First, autonomous control over information sources. With an RSS subscription software or website, you can subscribe to all the information you want, whether it’s UP masters on Bilibili or bloggers on Douyin, through a single software.
Second, RSS subscription software is pure, without any additional information that might guide you to watch more content. Often, after a blogger you like updates, you might click to watch, and after watching, you subconsciously scroll down, entering a regrettable state of flow. By avoiding contact with these apps as much as possible and keeping them hidden, you can prevent this.
Based on these two points, combined with methods of physical isolation and redirecting attention, I believe the vast majority of people can recover from short video addiction and regain a healthy lifestyle.
Recommendation
Here, I recommend the most popular and innovative RSS software currently available—Follow. Since its beta testing, I have used it extensively, and the official version has now been released. This is an excellent software that can achieve RSS-like functionality for websites and apps that do not provide RSS services. Its technology is based on RSSHub, an open-source project led by the developer DIYgod. I am grateful to DIYgod for contributing to the tranquility of the internet.