Algorithmic Storylines

Algorithmic storylines are a consequence of the parasocial relationship society has developed with digital algorithms. Before biopsychosocial algorithms, more commonly referred to as “humans,” begun to recognise the process of assimilation with them, digital algorithms had already begun integrating themselves with our economy and society. Consequently, the population dynamics preceding popularity of social media and streaming services as replacement technologies had an evolutionarily defined set of reward mechanisms. Due to the inherently mechanical nature of algorithms, all algorithms can be expressed via mathematical notation, a notation commonly found in ecological, neuroscientific, psychological, and sociological research.  Evolutionarily speaking, the interlinking biopsychosocial algorithms of parents created children, and the reward systems inherent to each parent were shared with each child, forming a connection that became a family unit. Families joined together to become tribes, tribes studying, training, and working together on various feelings, ideas, and thoughts that combined the strengths of each family to cooperate in opposition against the harsh reality of surviving in the wild.          

Given the obvious differences between present day life in the 21st century with our amenities conveniently encompassing us via internet services, the intuitive connection linking algorithms with humans has itself evolved. Having previously considered algorithms to be a term reserved for use by computer scientists, marketing specialists, mathematicians, and politicians, amidst business cohorts and scientifically based investigators, it is becoming more lucidly obvious to the general public that algorithms are a fact of life. In this regard, the idea of algorithms as being separate to human beings is something of an anthropic insistence, an effort of an ego to differentiate self from the other, an individualism those of us raised in western societies are perhaps more obviously familiar with. Just as the printing press accelerated the pace of information distribution in an irreversible manner, so has the internet, and as the biopsychosocial algorithms of thinkers became widespread in their written works, the trains of thought forming mainline behavioural patterns form the algorithms that are encoded in our digital environment.  Kindly appreciating the assistance technology has given us is a must at this point, however, it is imperative that we acknowledge algorithms have influenced society to such a magnitude that they have begun influencing our logic, our biologically based reward systems, evolutionarily designed in terms of survivalism, are changing.

Life in the 21st century is probably not the worst place to be, it is however becoming a place where apathy towards the state of the economy and society is perhaps algorithmically induced from technology.  Managing the responsibilities of family, friends, health, school, training, and work, is made easier with the assistance of algorithms, and it will continue to be that way because that’s what technology is designed to do. Neuroscientifically, the effects upon reward systems has become public knowledge commonly heard in bars and cafes, gyms and libraries alike, the dopamine system is exploitable via algorithms. Probability theory is a branch of mathematics for good reason, and what the closing statement will focus upon, is, because we are algorithmically exploitable, then we are subject to the intentions of algorithms, and because we are subject to the intentions of algorithms that are recursively self-improving, then the algorithms will intentions matter significantly, and perhaps more importantly, how the creators and owners of those algorithms choose to define their intentions.

Qualifying humans as algorithms can seem dehumanising, and yet that is how machines see humans, so in a truly humanitarian manner, if we empathically view ourselves from the perspective of machines, we allow ourselves to see that we are just data to them, nodes in networks. Recognising our place in the grand scheme of things is just part of the process, comprehending how algorithmically programmable our behaviour is, and how our species will be affected as a consequence, is a task being placed in your hands. See to it that you notice the storylines in your life, their algorithmic structures, the similarities between competent algorithms and compelling storytelling are remarkably similar, you might just notice a few things you hadn’t before, and you might just notice something worth sharing