EPISODE 20. SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHM

This story about social media algorithms, neuroplasticity, and the rise of far-right extremism among youth might stir some controversy. However, it touches on a deeply serious issue that resonates not only with Korea’s current political situation but also with global trends. It’s a problem that feels urgent and relevant, and I believe it could even become a key topic in the beneficial development of AI programs.

More research is needed to explain why women seem more immune to this trend than men, but I suspect it’s because men are closer to their instincts. It is a topic that is often joked about in all human societies around the world, and to some extent, it can be considered true. This is a global phenomenon, and it cannot be denied.

People naturally gravitate toward comfort—this is nothing new. We prefer things that are easy, familiar, and affirming, while avoiding things that make us uncomfortable at first glance. While these instincts may feel natural, humans retain their humanity by choosing to follow reason over impulse. The danger of preference algorithms lies in their ability to create a sense of comfort for the brain, which can lead to complacency and hinder our capacity for critical thinking. Comfort and ease stiffen the brain, prevent change, and solidify rigid ideas.

This is why the right-wing shift among teenage males seems to happen so quickly. The right-wing shift is essentially the resurgence of animalistic instincts—prioritizing survival over coexistence, and justifying exploitation for personal gain, all dressed up in numbers or languages.

A key factor in this trend is the presence of preference algorithms during infancy and childhood, when the brain is growing and developing. These algorithms remove the need for active choice or critical thought, and babies—especially boys—instinctively absorb their influence. Of course, this is compounded by parents who are unable to limit screen time and the broader issue of insufficient and unequal child-rearing environments.

As a counterexample, consider the current generation in their 40s and 50s in Korea. Many of them actively participated in impeachment rallies and have not shifted to the right-wing. This is likely because they did not grow up with social media algorithms during their formative years.

On the other hand, the right-wing shift reappears among the elderly. This is may be because preference algorithms, delivered through the internet, are affecting their aging brains in a similar way.

Reference

Yaakov Stern, Carol A Barnes, Cheryl Grady, Richard N Jones, Naftali Raz, Brain Reserve, Cognitive Reserve, Compensation, and Maintenance: Operationalization, Validity, and Mechanisms of Cognitive Resilience Neurobiology of aging. Nov 2019

Choe Sang-Hun, How ‘Stop the Steal’ Became a Protest Slogan in South Korea’, The New York Times. Jan 2025

Ruben Berge Mathisen, Growing Apart: Ideological Polarization between Teenage Boys and Girls, Jan 2025