Technology constantly changes how things work, but is our technology also changing us?
Algorithms are simple things. Really - they are. Algorithms are just formulas applied to data to reach an output. That’s it. In our current culture, the most common algorithms we see in action are those that control our social media. The platform takes a huge number of variables into account, such as your age, location, browsing history, search history, etc., and decides what kind of content you are most likely to engage with. The facts about you are the data, the decision making process/formula is the algorithm, and what you see in your feed is the output. Super simple right?
Unfortunately, as algorithms become more and more a part of our everyday life, they are changing what we know, what we think we know, and making us more divided, angry, and hateful. If we look to the example and teachings of Jesus, we see that this wasn’t how we were meant to live.
Our Tech-Filled World
All around us, technology is constantly changing how things work. Think about how we communicate and the evolution from mailing letters to sending telegrams, from telegrams to faxes, from faxes to emails. The evolution from the early telephone to cordless home phones, from home landlines to cell phones, from cell phones to smartphones.
We’ve gotten used to the constant evolution and change in technology affecting how we do common tasks in our everyday life, but while this has been going on, something else has happened with our technology. As more and more of our daily lives are influenced by computer algorithms, we’ve opened up the possibility of our technology actually affecting and in some cases actually changing who we are, how we think, and how we behave.
For Millennials and Gen Xers, many of us remember the anti-drug use TV campaign “This is your brain on drugs.” For those unfamiliar, the basic idea was that your brain is an egg, and drugs are a hot frying pan. The narrator cracks the egg into the pan where it instantly starts to fry. “And this is your brain on drugs,” he proclaims. The idea was that drugs have a permanent and irreversible effect on your brain.
When we think about technology and social media, the word “addiction” and inevitable comparison to drugs is not uncommon. In 2025 we went through a teaching series called “Under Pressure”, where we examined whether we are “Addicted to Our Algorithms.” But how do people become addicted to social media, and how does that change us?
How Social Media Becomes Addicting
There’s a saying in web tech that says “Nothing is free. If the product is free, then you’re the product.”
Social media, generally speaking, revolves around attention and advertising. Social media companies make money by selling ads on their platform. Your attention and interaction is the product. The longer people spend on the platform, the more ads the social media company can show them, and the more money they make. So the social media company has a financial incentive to keep its users on their platform for as long as possible, and even better, to get them to engage with the content (and ads) that they see. Advertisers bid for ad placements and pay for their ads based on either how often the ad is shown (impressions) or how often the ad is clicked.
This is where the algorithm comes in. Each social media company uses their own algorithms to determine what type of content their users are shown. How do these algorithms work? They take in hundreds if not thousands of variables about each individual user, and based on these variables determine content they are most likely to watch, read, or engage with. Unlike a static formula, algorithms adjust each time they repeat, making changes based on a number of factors both specific to the user and influenced by larger platform engagement trends.
Many of the variables the algorithms use happen “on platform”, for instance, past content you’ve clicked on Facebook, or the types of video you watch most often on Instagram. But there are also external variables that can come into play based on your online behavior. Have you been looking up used cars lately? Social media companies buy and sell data with other platforms to continuously improve the targeting of ads they show you. You may see a video ad for a used car dealership in your news feed the next time you log in.
OK, but how do they really work?
What Makes an Algorithm Successful & What it Does to the User
If the goal of the social media company is to keep the user on their platform, the algorithm wants to show the user anything that will keep their attention. So logically, the algorithm should show the user things that interest them. I for instance see a lot of content about hockey, ads for old watches, and suggested posts with jokes about life in New England.
In addition to stuff that interests us though, the algorithm also learns what you like and what you agree with or believe in. If you frequently watch content from a certain publisher (or news agency) then the algorithm will show you more and more content from that publisher. If you frequently post about your Christian faith, the algorithm will start showing you more and more Christian content. Same for if you identify as a member of a particular political party.
This again makes sense, but comes with some perhaps unintended and often unnoticed consequences. As the algorithms show us more and more of what we already like and already agree with, we see less and less of content that features differing opinions, perspectives, or reporting. Unless the user - i.e., you and I - make an effort, tunnel vision focuses where we may not see... the algorithm is simply feeding us what we already know or believe. It creates an echo chamber effect where we only hear our own opinions echoed back to us. The algorithm creates a self-reinforcing environment where we believe something to be true, and then we’re shown content that confirms that we were correct because the algorithm picked content that matched our initial opinion.
AI’s Effect on Algorithms
So where does AI play into this?
Unfortunately, nowhere good. As AI has become more advanced, it has created all new possibilities for profit and abuse. People looking to make a quick profit have started using generative AI to create content that will draw in users, irrelevant of factuality. The content is hosted on a site that, like the social media platform, makes money by selling advertisements. When a user clicks on the link and the page with the story or video loads, the creator makes a small amount of money for the ads that display on the page. Now apply that model to the millions of users on a social media platform and there’s a LOT of money to be made doing this.
What does this look like in real life? I will once again humble myself as an example.
I am an enormous fan of the Boston Bruins. When we talk about unhealthy addictions, my love for the Bruins is an unhealthy addiction. Facebook knows this about me. They probably also know that by the time I get to scrolling through Facebook on any given day, I’ve probably already read any and all credible reporting about the Bruins. So what are they going to show me? The answer is anything exciting or scandalous sounding about my beloved Bruins. A trade rumor about a star player? Maybe whispers of locker room discord? The headline always ropes me in… but then I click the link and the story is completely bogus, and I’ve been had. Again.
In all of these instances, the “news agency” that published the story is someone I’ve never heard of. In the past, that may have meant a small independent blogger or publisher. More often than not today, it means a scam.
While tricking me into reading a fake story about the Boston Bruins can seem innocuous enough, these scam stories cause real damage when the topic is more consequential than a hockey team. AI written stories glorifying our chosen political candidate and detailing the atrocities of their opponent have flooded social media in recent years. Same for our religious beliefs and conflicting beliefs or religions.
Algorithm Rocket Fuel
If interest and agreement are fuel for algorithmic success, hatred and rage are rocket fuel. In the early days of social media, algorithms relied on showing users more of what they like. It made perfect sense.
But as time went on, the algorithms learned something that may seem surprising. People engaged more with content that angered or offended them. The users felt they needed to weigh in, to correct wrong information, or to fight back against something they strongly disagreed with.
Think about it this way; are you more likely to go online and write an effusively positive review of a product you ordered or a restaurant you visited that met expectations, or write a negative review about a terrible experience you had. Unfortunately, the latter is far more common in our culture.
An MIT Technology Review article explained it like this:
“The machine-learning models that maximize engagement also favor controversy, misinformation, and extremism: put simply, people just like outrageous stuff.
Sometimes this inflames existing political tensions. The most devastating example to date is the case of Myanmar, where viral fake news and hate speech about the Rohingya Muslim minority escalated the country’s religious conflict into a full-blown genocide. Facebook admitted in 2018, after years of downplaying its role, that it had not done enough “to help prevent our platform from being used to foment division and incite offline violence.”
That article also detailed the testimony a former Facebook employee, Frances Haugen, gave to Congress in 2021, confirming that Facebook knew as far back as 2016 that their algorithm promoted extremist group content as well as content that drove political division,
The article reports:
“In 2017, Chris Cox, Facebook’s longtime chief product officer, formed a new task force to understand whether maximizing user engagement on Facebook was contributing to political polarization. It found that there was indeed a correlation, and that reducing polarization would mean taking a hit on engagement.”
In short, our algorithms pull us apart, and are rewarded for doing so.
There’s also a phenomenon known as “algorithmic radicalization,” where algorithms on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube show the user content that is increasingly extremist, driving them further down the path to extremist ideologies.
Knowing what we now do about how algorithms work to reinforce and amplify similar voices, the effect is a scrolling experience designed to make and keep us angry, and provide content that tells us where and how to direct that anger.
What Would Jesus Do?
If our social media is making us angrier, more divided, and more hateful, then what would Jesus do?
Well, pretty much the exact opposite.
Jesus called us to love one another, and even to love our enemies.
“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you much love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~John 13: 34-35
When did Jesus say that? During the last supper. After washing his disciples feet and predicting Judas’ betrayal. Just before he predicted Peter’s denial of him. Jesus knew what was about to happen, but despite facing the horrific prospect of what lay before him, he still called his followers to love and unity.
Jesus’ disciples took this command seriously and infused this message into their own teachings as the gospel spread throughout the known world.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote to Christian instructing them pretty simply how to act like Christians.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
~James 1:19-21
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he called followers to life by the Spirit - something which entailed renouncing sinful acts and attitudes and embracing the fruit of the Spirit.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
~Galatians 5:16-26
Christianity Today
The example and teachings of Christ call us not to surrender to the anger, division, and hatred we witness around us, even if our favorite social media platform is programmed to blanket us in it.
But how can we counter the effects of social media algorithms that want us to stay enraged with each other?
Former Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murphy, upon his departure from the office, wrote, “As I finish my tenure as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription, my final wish for all of us: choose community.”
In interviews about this “parting prescription,” Murphy outlined what he believed to be the best supports for our health - Relationships, Purpose, and Service.
To me, that sounds exactly what authentic Christianity - true following of Jesus Christ - fills our lives with.
Relationships, Purpose, and Service
These three things are distinct and yet thoroughly entwined in what defines our identity. Who we are, what we pursue, the things that we do for others all shape our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
When we thrive in relationships, when we know our purpose on this earth, and when we put that purpose to action for the good of those around us, these things all help us to understand the most fundamental of questions - Who Am I?
In a recent sermon focusing on the questions we all ask, Pastor Ruthie Seiders delved into this question of “Who Am I?” and came to a simple conclusion to an incredibly complex question - we are “image-bearing, relational, beloved children of God.” Pastor Ruthie does a phenomenal job of unpacking that one, so check out the sermon here.
So what can we do to live out the values Christ teaches us?
Put simply, we could all be a bit more mindful about how we consume content and interact in virtual spaces. Think about your daily media consumption and consider limiting your screen time where possible. Think about who you follow and what kind of effect they have on you and your behavior.
Here are a few other thoughts and tips:
- Keep the words of Jesus, James, and Paul in your mind each day.
In Ephesians, Paul gives the instruction, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29) Choose not to engage in arguments that will not result in positive change. Choose peace over violence, compassion over hate.
- Build Community
Making friends seems to get more and more difficult with each passing year. One one hand once you leave your school years behind you find fewer opportunities to meet new people that you’ll see every day. Our social circles become very small as the pool of people we’re in frequent contact with dwindles down to our workplace and limited third spaces.
On the other hand, technology has also contributed to the difficulty of making friends as we embrace remote work and spend more time on social media where connection is quick and easy but relationship and understanding is hardly on the menu. For all the good that social media can bring to our lives by keeping us connected across great distances, its utility as a third space when it comes to making purposeful relationships can be limited. It gets even harder still when the content we’re mired in amplifies division and disagreement.
Find a chance to meet your neighbors, get involved in local community organizations in your town, volunteer alongside folks with different opinions or life experiences than yourself. Build more bridges and fewer walls.
- Break Down the Walls That Are There
Seek unity within your community - especially in your church. We build stronger, more resilient relationships and communities when we first acknowledge and appreciate the humanity of the people around us. When we see folks as opponents or enemies first and people second, it undermines our ability to have thriving relationships with them.
Remember your common identity, whether that is faith in Christ, or shared community, or even better - that we are all human beings, created in the image of God.
Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash
Header image photo by Fahrul Razi on Unsplash
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