Caught in the matrix

Social media, artificial intelligence, and news algorithms influence not only what we see, but also what we think. We don’t realise how they quietly influence our beliefs, reaffirm our biases, and keep us hooked. We browse ceaselessly, devouring highlights from other people’s lives, viral trends, and material designed to keep us engaged – but not necessarily educated. Fake pictures, deepfakes, and synthetic voices are becoming so advanced that reality is beginning to blur. What’s the truth? What is fabricated? Who makes these decisions? These are the questions we should be asking, but most of us are too preoccupied to care.

Meanwhile, internet companies sit back and observe, taking advantage of our fragmented focus. And there is the true risk. We’re not just being manipulated; we’re willing to go along with it. We have ceased asking questions. We have ceased thinking critically. We blindly accept what algorithms decide. If we do not start questioning and demanding transparency and control over our digital lives, we will remain prisoners to a reality shaped by someone else.

Shafique Rajper

Naushahro Feroze