Why does it sometimes feel like everyone online is suddenly talking about the same thing?

We've always taken cues from the crowd. Social media changes the size of that crowd, and algorithms now help decide which parts of it we see. A trend, opinion, or idea can suddenly seem like it's everywhere simply because the system keeps putting it in front of us.

And if people understand what the algorithm rewards, they can sometimes give a message an extra push.

So when something suddenly seems to be everywhere, are we seeing what people genuinely care about, or what the algorithm has decided to keep showing us?

In this episode of Dad Think, I explore how social media algorithms are changing an old form of peer pressure, and why thinking for ourselves now means asking how the crowd got in front of us in the first place.

About Dad Think
Technology is changing faster than ever. Artificial intelligence, smartphones, social media, and algorithms are reshaping how we work, parent, communicate, and live.

Dad Think with Joe Ludwig is a weekly podcast that explores technology's impact on society and culture, from a father's point of view. Each week, join Joe as he explores how technology and culture are changing the way we live, think, and relate to one another, and tries to make sense of these changes, one story, one idea, one question at a time.

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