Discern Between Real-World and Online Social Learning—Don't Let Algorithms Shape Your Identity

In the age of social media, algorithms are designed to expose you to the most 'popular' or 'prestigious' voices—those who hold the most sway in digital cultures, regardless of their actual expertise or credibility. This harnesses what psychologists call 'conformist' and 'prestige' bias: people instinctively copy those who seem most successful in their group and those whom the crowd rewards.

Originally, these learning shortcuts helped children and adolescents quickly pick up the behaviors and values of their community—by watching parents, older students, or respected locals. But now, scrolling through curated feeds, a teen can encounter a thousand pieces of advice or examples in a single afternoon, most chosen by artificial intelligence rather than human wisdom. The danger: these algorithms often amplify extreme, performative, or highly 'engaging' voices, not the thoughtful, kind, or genuinely competent ones.

Without critical reflection, it's easy to unconsciously adopt attitudes, habits, and even identity markers that are out of sync with your family, neighborhood, or deeper goals. Behavioral science warns us: who you watch determines who you become. A conscious review of influences—and purposeful curation of which digital streams earn your time—is key to forming a resilient, authentic self.

Today, pause after each online session to note who and what influenced you. Write your top offline and online role models, and consider which have shaped your language, moods, or beliefs this month. If you're in a critical growth period (ages 10–15, especially), press pause on algorithm-driven content and actively seek in-person mentors or trusted voices. Reflect each week—after a scroll or a new trend—whether you're living by your own values or those handed to you by an unseen crowd. Reclaim your agency with every choice of whom to follow.