Featured in CLOG Issue 18: “FEEDS”

I recently had a short piece featured in CLOG, a publication that “explores, from multiple viewpoints and through a variety of means, a single subject particularly relevant now.” The latest issue, “FEEDS,” explores the algorithms and strategies of social media—how these notions are preached as a uniting force for good, but are really just a commodity like any other. 

“Feeds are purported to connect us to one another; they spark friendships, romances, and revolutions, and they keep them alive. On the other hand, feeds are explicitly designed to increase engagement. Not only do feeds capture our attention, they turn it into a product, ultimately generating advertising revenue for third parties. Epitomizing the fleeting moment and eluding nuanced, in-depth discussion, the same algorithms that serve to unite people with similar interests and ideologies also amplify differences, demonstrating an ability to not only connect us, but to drive us apart.”

- From CLOG’s announcement of “FEEDS”

My piece, entitled “Instasham” captures a moment in time where I thought I had curated my personal Instagram experience into something inspiring and productive. I can’t say I feel the same way about the platform now, though. Despite having worked in the social media industry—I’ve always viewed companies like Meta, Twitter, and TikTok with intense skepticism and the affection I once had for Instagram is now disappearing. My contribution to Issue 18 is a quick read, but CLOG is full of lots of great content. You can check out the publication here.

“Some 1200 followers and 1500 or so posts later, I had found the content I was being fed as repetitive, boring, and infuriating as any other platform.”

- From “Instasham”