The internet itself is not the cause of mental decay, but rather the algorithm-driven doomscrolling that dominates our online experiences.
Being online in 2025 can be a miserable experience, and while some of this misery is due to the current state of the world, a significant portion of it can be attributed to how we interact with online content. We’ve all found ourselves mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, only to realize that hours have passed without us even noticing. The feeds on social media platforms seem to be filled with AI-generated content, advertisements, and irrelevant information that we don’t want to see.
However, there is a way to take control of your online experience. The key is to stop being a passive participant and instead, actively curate the content that appears on your feeds. This can be achieved, and I’ve done it myself. It may require some effort, such as installing software, learning new tools, and paying for certain services, but the end result is worth it.
The Problem Lies with Us, Not the Algorithm
When we find ourselves scrolling through YouTube videos at 2 a.m., who do we blame? The algorithm. When our Instagram feed is filled with content we don’t want to see, what do we want to eliminate? The algorithm. We often tell ourselves, “It’s not my fault, it’s just the algorithm.” This mindset is a cop-out, and it’s how Big Tech companies win. While these companies do have powerful algorithms designed to keep us engaged, the root of the problem lies with us. In the age of social media, many of us have chosen to consume the low-quality content that companies like Meta and Google serve us.
A recent video by the YouTuber Technology Connections identified this issue and coined the term “algorithmic complacency.” The video explains how people are increasingly relying on computer programs to decide what they see online, even when they have alternatives. This phenomenon is eroding our ability to control our online experiences and making us more susceptible to the manipulations of Big Tech companies.
The video highlights the problem of algorithmic complacency and offers a starting point for breaking the cycle: YouTube. By taking control of our YouTube experience, we can begin to reclaim our online agency. For instance, YouTube allows users to see a feed of only the channels they’ve subscribed to, which can be accessed via this link. By bookmarking this link or setting it as our default YouTube page, we can ensure that we only see content from creators we trust and enjoy.
This approach may not help with discovering new content, but it gives us control over our experience and allows us to see videos from creators we already know and like. It’s a simple yet effective way to bypass the algorithm and take charge of our online interactions.
Utilize an RSS Reader
Using an RSS reader is a powerful technique that can help us regain control over our online experiences. Every morning, I spend an hour reading news and niche websites using an RSS reader like Feedly. Instead of visiting individual websites, I open my RSS reader and browse through a list of the latest content from all the sites I’m interested in, in chronological order.
Almost every website has a default RSS feed, including government websites, substacks, newsletters, and blogs. Good RSS readers allow us to plug in custom URLs, enabling us to set up feeds for specific topics, such as tracking packages from FedEx or UPS. We can even convert YouTube subscriptions into RSS feeds, giving us more control over the content we consume.
There are many RSS readers available, and it’s essential to experiment with different options to find the one that suits our needs. I use NewsBlur, which costs $36 a year and offers a range of features and customization options.
Ditch Google Search
Switching from Google search to a paid alternative was a challenging task for me, and it may be for you as well. However, if you want search results that are accurate and relevant, you’ll need to invest in a better search engine. I recently tried to find an old story using Google search, but no matter what keywords I used, I couldn’t find it. The results were dominated by AI-generated answers, landing pages, and tangentially related news material.
In frustration, I turned to Kagi.com and purchased a subscription to their search engine. The story I was looking for was the first result on the first page, and I was impressed by the accuracy and relevance of the search results. Kagi offers a free trial for 100 searches, and then it’s $5 for 500 searches or $10 a month for unlimited searches.
Regain Control Over Social Media or Convert to RSS Feeds
Social media platforms are another area where algorithmic-driven doomscrolling dominates our lives. However, we have options to take control. Many social media platforms allow us to see a feed of only the people we’re following or subscribed to. For example, on YouTube, we can access this feed via the subscriptions link. On Instagram, we can access this feed on the Android and iOS apps, but not on the web-based version.
By using social media with a purpose, we can break the cycle of algorithmic complacency. We can set a specific time to scroll through content from people we care about and stick to what we’ve subscribed to. We can even convert social media feeds into RSS feeds using programs like Inoreader, which allows us to subscribe to LinkedIn posts and convert them into RSS feeds.
Set Time Limits on Doomscrolling
While it’s essential to take control of our online experiences, it’s also important to acknowledge that sometimes we just want to mindlessly scroll through content. However, it’s crucial to set limits on the amount of time we spend doomscrolling. I recommend setting a timer for 15 minutes, but you can adjust this to 30 minutes or an hour, depending on your needs.
To enforce this rule, use a timer that’s not on the device you’re using. This could be a kitchen timer or a mechanical timer like this fox-shaped egg timer on Amazon. The goal is to get up and move around when the timer goes off, breaking the spell of the algorithm and freeing ourselves from its control.
