Psychological and Economic Effects of Social Media Algorithms
Clinical psychologist Mehmet Büyükçorak stated that social media platforms operate like behavioral engineering laboratories, transforming human psychology and consumption habits.
Clinical Psychologist Mehmet Büyükçorak discussed the impacts of social media algorithms and behavioral engineering on human psychology, relationships, and consumption habits.
Behavioral Engineering Laboratories
Today's social media platforms, with their algorithmic structures, function not only as laboratories that shape what will be seen, but also how one will feel, what will be consumed, and who individuals will transform into.
Addictive Structures
Experts employed by tech giants conduct work to make these spaces even more addictive. Constant visibility and live broadcasts narrow users' attention spans.
Relationships and Loneliness
While relationships on social media are likened to fast-food consumption, it is emphasized that real relationships require effort and responsibility, and loneliness can cause as much physical destruction as cigarette consumption.
Economic Dimension and Consumption
On the economic front, consumption turns into identity construction, while the attention economy and the fear of missing out drive individuals toward impulsive shopping.
Solutions and Psychological Flexibility
Stating that the solution is not to completely remove social media from life, experts draw attention to the importance of building psychological flexibility in our relationship with the digital world.