We like to think of the internet as a window to the world. We believe that when we look at our screens, we are seeing a diverse, expansive reality. But the internet is not a window. It is a mirror.

Every click, every pause, every “like” tells the algorithm what you want to see. In its quest to keep you engaged, the system feeds you more of what you already agree with. If you are fearful, it shows you danger. If you are angry, it shows you injustice. If you love cats, the world becomes a place made entirely of cats.

This feedback loop creates a distorted reality. We begin to believe that everyone thinks like us, or that the world is far more extreme than it actually is. We are trapped in a personalized universe, isolated from contradictory ideas that might help us grow.

To be truly human in the digital age is to smash the mirror. We must intentionally seek out what the algorithm hides, or risk becoming a caricature of our own preferences.