Describing social media platforms as wielding power to exploit human vulnerabilities, historian and author Yuval Noah Harari urged users to rethink their relationship with technology and information consumption.
"Information is the food of the mind," said the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, but warned that most of what people consume today was the mental equivalent of junk food. "We need good information, but too much information is harmful. Just like our bodies need time to digest food, our minds need time to digest mental input."
Harari stressed the importance of taking breaks from the relentless flow of information, suggesting that "information fasts" of a few hours, days, or even weeks are crucial to maintaining mental clarity.
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Yuval Noah Harari (Photo: Vishal Patel/NDTV Profit)
Mechanics Of Mind Hacking
Drawing parallels between hacking computers and human brains, Harari explained how social media algorithms exploit psychological weaknesses.
"Just as you find the weakest spot in a computer, social media algorithms look for the weakest spots in our minds — hate, fear, greed. Once they identify what you hate, they flood you with related content," he said, adding that they amplify emotions while shaping perceptions.
Harari emphasised how this constant targeting manipulates users, perpetuating negative cycles and polarising societies. "It's like hacking the human brain," he added.
Harari's Approach To Technology
Despite his concerns, Harari admitted to owning a smartphone but said he uses it cautiously. "I have a smartphone," he shared, "but I try to use the smartphone instead of being used by it."
He avoids behaviours like doomscrolling, where users endlessly consume negative news.
In the age of social media, Harari believes the challenge lies in regaining control over the consumption habits. He advocated for mindfulness, digital detoxes, and creating boundaries to protect mental health.
As social media algorithms become increasingly sophisticated, his warning underscores the need for greater awareness of how digital platforms manipulate human behavior.
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