I think we're at a point where being passive about how we consume information and engage with technology isn't sustainable anymore. I'm feeling it myself, and I recognise it in the people around me.
So idiovox is an investigation into how systems—algorithmic, technological, cultural—are shaping our thinking.
The more I've been exposed to these systems, the more I've internalised them. My news comes from clickbait headlines. My worldview is shaped by the tone of a feed. I've noticed the echo chambers that reinforce existing beliefs, and I wonder what we've lost in trading depth for an infinite scroll. I know I'm not alone in this.
I've spent years in martech learning how attention is manufactured, measured, and sold. I understand what engagement metrics reward and that algorithms decide what we see. So my intention here is to unpack what's actually going on, and consider what we might do differently.
idiovox isn’t about a fantasy of unplugging completely. I'm not preaching dumb phones and digital detoxes. But I am going to explore how we can operate more intentionally in an environment that constantly demands our attention.
And yes I do see the irony here; I'm critiquing algorithms on Instagram, I'm using AI to smooth my grammar while worrying about what it does to my creativity, and I'm banging on about polarisation while writing from my particular perspective. I'm aware of the contradictions—and that's kind of the point. We don't get to opt out completely. But lets try and choose how intentional we are about it.
I don't think we're doomed, but the constant demand for our attention is taxing and unsustainable. So I'm keen to find better ways through it. For ourselves. For our families. For whether we can actually find common ground.
This project is me trying to find out what a reclaimed brain looks like. You're welcome to figure it out alongside me.