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Social media addiction is real, and it's not your fault. Platforms are designed to keep you hooked. But what if they were designed to help you grow? This is the promise of shifting from Freud to Jung.
The transition from a Freudian to a Jungian model of social media involves a paradigm shift in how we interact online, moving from platforms that cater to our base desires and ego-driven impulses to those that promote collective understanding and holistic well-being. In the current Freudian model, social media exploits our unconscious drives, resulting in dopamine addiction, dark patterns, and superficial interactions.
This leads to polarized communities, misinformation, and mental health issues. The Jungian model, in contrast, emphasizes self-discovery and collective consciousness. This approach would transform social media into a tool for personal growth and societal cohesion using visual frameworks to present real data about our society, to enlighten, instead of keeping it hidden and using it against us.
Understanding Dark Patterns
The concept of dark patterns in technology and social media can be deeply analyzed through the lens of Freudian psychology. Freud's theories, particularly those focusing on the unconscious mind, offer a compelling framework to understand how dark patterns exploit psychological vulnerabilities.
Exploitation of Unconscious Desires: Dark patterns exploit subconscious urges like the fear of missing out. For example, "limited-time offers" prompt impulsive purchases by tapping into our fear of loss.
Manipulation Through Pleasure Principle: By leveraging the desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain, dark patterns make the easiest option the most gratifying. A common example is the pre-checked subscription renewal box, encouraging continued payments by default.
Triggering of Defense Mechanisms: Dark patterns can activate defense mechanisms such as rationalization, where users justify irrational purchases. "Confirmshaming," where opting out is framed negatively, is a tactic that exploits this to coerce user compliance.
Regression to More Primitive Behaviors: Under stress, confusing interfaces can cause users to regress to simpler decision-making processes. The "roach motel" tactic, where users find it easy to enter a situation but hard to exit, exemplifies this.
Repetition Compulsion: Features like endless scrolling tap into compulsions to keep engaging, driven by anxieties about being left out or uninformed.
We can see how dark patterns are not merely annoyances or unethical practices in design but deeply ingrained exploitations of human psychology. They manipulate the fundamental ways in which the unconscious mind operates, turning innate desires and behaviors into vulnerabilities that can be exploited for commercial gain.
Author: Mark Fox
A Jungian Approach to Enriching Social Media Experience
In contrast to the Freudian approach, a Jungian approach to social media would focus on personal growth, deeper self-awareness, and a healthier collective consciousness.
1. Content Feeds Algorithms
The Jungian model advocates for algorithm shifts that promote content encouraging self-reflection, learning, and broader user understanding. For example, by utilizing RSS feeds, users can curate a diverse array of content sources, significantly reducing echo chambers. This method allows users to tailor their information intake, cultivating an environment conducive to personal development and a wider understanding of the world.
2. Targeted Advertising
In a Jungian framework, advertising supports ethical consumer behavior and promotes products that genuinely add value. Instead of invasive tracking, ads could be contextually based on the current page or user-selected preferences. The Brave browser exemplifies this approach by blocking standard ads but offering a rewards program for viewing privacy-respecting ads—showing not just a rejection of the invasive, but an embrace of the ethical.
3. Notification Systems
Jungian principles in notification systems focus on enhancing user consciousness and well-being. Notifications should remind users of healthy habits and educational opportunities, not just re-engage them compulsively. By allowing extensive customization of notification settings, users gain control over their digital interactions, promoting healthier habits and mental wellness.
4. Recommendation Systems
Recommendations under a Jungian model would enhance personal and cultural growth by exposing users to new ideas and diverse cultural content. Developing algorithms that promote a mix of familiar and novel content types can help users expand their horizons and deepen their understanding of different subjects. This system would prioritize educational and enriching content, enhancing personal development and broad cultural perspectives.
Author: Unknown
By embracing a Jungian model, social media platforms can transform from tools of distraction and exploitation, rooted in the Freudian approach, into instruments of enlightenment and community building, rooted in self-awareness and growth. This shift moves us from exploitation to enrichment, aligning not just with ethical standards but with a deeper commitment to building a healthy, informed, and cohesive society.