Why is AI showing you this?
Every day, AI decides what you see. YouTube's "Up Next." Instagram's "Suggested Posts." Netflix's "Because You Watched." Amazon's "Frequently Bought Together."
These recommendations feel personal. They're not.
They're optimized for engagement, watch time, basket size, ad revenue—not for what's best for you.
"For You" doesn't mean "good for you"—it means "will keep you scrolling"
"Because You Watched X" is rarely about similar content—it's about similar watch time patterns
"People You May Know" mines your data, not genuine connection
"Recommended for You" often means "high profit margin" or "paid placement"
This practice teaches you to question automatically.
Three simple questions. One minute of critical thinking. A lifetime of better decisions.