• Fr. Roy Alex SJ

This is my life, and no one should interfere in it. Many people today strongly desire the freedom to make their own choices, to move through life without restrictions, and to ensure that no one—whether a parent, spouse, or even a child—can dictate their actions. They advocate for independence and privacy, locking their doors, securing their phones, and setting passwords on every app to keep their personal world closed off from others. It’s become common for parents to express concern that their children, after returning from school or college, retreat into their rooms and spend hours absorbed in their phones. One parent recently shared with me that their senior child has developed the habit of staying up very late at night. To the father’s surprise, he discovered that his son has friends in an African country and often talks to them in the middle of the night.

On one hand, we argue fiercely for freedom and privacy, shutting ourselves off from our parents, friends, and those closest to us. Yet, on the other hand, we seem more open than ever to the influence of people we’ve never met, or even to being subtly controlled by the algorithms that shape our online experiences. In our quest for freedom, have we unintentionally allowed ourselves to be manipulated by the very technology we thought would set us free?

Recently, one of my relatives excitedly told me about his experience browsing the internet. With surprise and excitement, he said, “My phone seems to know exactly what I want to watch. Every time I pick it up, it shows me hundreds of videos that match my interests.” He was really happy, feeling like his phone had become a personal assistant, perfectly understanding what he liked. It’s easy to feel impressed by the idea that our devices understand us, but the truth is more complicated. The phone isn’t just giving us what we want—it’s also trying to keep us hooked for as long as possible. Every time we like, click, or watch something, the phone remembers it and shows us more of the same, making sure we stay interested. As time goes by, this can create a pattern where we lose control over how much time we spend on our phones and how much our thoughts are shaped by what we see.

A computer algorithm is a precise set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a specific task or solve a problem. But how does it affect human behaviour? While computer algorithms don’t “control” humans like robots, they strongly influence decisions and behaviour by controlling the information and content that we see and interact with. They analyse our behaviour in the social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and our search history in google to decide what to show you next, which can shape what information or ideas we are exposed to. This can lead to addictive behaviour because the content feels tailored to our desires, keeping us engaged for longer.

I told my relative that “you are being controlled or influenced by algorithm” and had to explain what that means in detail. A computer algorithm is a precise set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a specific task or solve a problem. But how does it affect human behaviour? While computer algorithms don’t “control” humans like robots, they strongly influence decisions and behaviour by controlling the information and content that we see and interact with. They analyse our behaviour in the social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and our search history in google to decide what to show you next, which can shape what information or ideas we are exposed to. This can lead to addictive behaviour because the content feels tailored to our desires, keeping us engaged for longer.

Sometimes, people pick up their phone to make an urgent call or send a business email, but their attention gets sidetracked by something that pops up on the screen — maybe a product they searched for two weeks ago. Instead of sending that email, they might end up browsing Amazon or Flipkart, possibly even buying something they never planned to purchase. This happens because online stores like Amazon use algorithms to recommend products based on what you’ve viewed or purchased before. These recommendations often feel personalized and relevant, making it tempting to buy things on impulse, even when we didn’t intend to. The algorithm plays on our preferences and past actions, steering our decisions without us even realizing it.

Algorithms have a big impact on our political beliefs and worldview by controlling what information we see online. If we often interact with posts, articles, or videos that support a certain political party or opinion, the algorithm will show us even more of the same type of content. The problem with this is that we might end up only seeing one side of the story, which strengthens the beliefs we already have. Instead of being exposed to different viewpoints, we may start seeing only the content that agrees with our existing ideas. This can lead to polarization, meaning our opinions can become more extreme because they are constantly being confirmed by the content we consume. The more we see content that agrees with us, the more certain we become of our views, and the less open we are to other perspectives. Algorithms don’t just influence our political beliefs; they shape how we see the world in general. For example, if we frequently read or watch content about climate change, social justice, or other cultural issues, the algorithm will keep showing us more of the same type of information. While this can help us learn more about a topic, it can also make us narrow-minded by only exposing us to one perspective. This limits our understanding of other perspectives on important issues.

In this digital age, we quickly assert our independence and value our freedom of choice. Yet, as we embrace technology, we may unknowingly surrender that freedom to algorithms that influence our decisions. We must ask ourselves: Are we genuinely in control of our choices, or are those choices being shaped by unseen forces?

The sophisticated nature of algorithms lies in how they shape and manipulate our digital experiences. They don’t just suggest what we might enjoy; they influence what we think, how we spend our time, and even how we interact with others. By carefully tailoring the content we see, algorithms subtly guide our opinions, steer our shopping habits, and mould our social behaviours.

We often panic when our computers or mobile phones are hacked because they hold so much of our personal data, which can be easily manipulated. However, we tend to overlook the fact that we, as individuals, are being “hacked” by algorithms. While we may distance ourselves from our loved ones in the name of freedom and independence, we are under constant surveillance by these algorithms.

In this digital age, we quickly assert our independence and value our freedom of choice. Yet, as we embrace technology, we may unknowingly surrender that freedom to algorithms that influence our decisions. We must ask ourselves: Are we genuinely in control of our choices, or are those choices being shaped by unseen forces?