Taking Back Control of Your Digital Life: You Control Your Algorithm
- jason w nabb
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
A few months ago, I was having a conversation with my son, Isaac, about social media, online news, and the overwhelming influence of technology in our daily lives. We were talking about how it feels like the algorithm—the invisible hand guiding what we see, like, and think—is out to get us. I was mid-sentence, probably lamenting how these platforms manipulate behavior, when he stopped me.
He said, “I am responsible for my algorithm.”
I froze. Not because I disagreed—but because I hadn’t heard it said quite so clearly. That one sentence lit up the room. It reframed everything I thought I knew about the role of algorithms in our lives. It made me realize: we aren’t passive victims of the feed. We are active participants. And whether we acknowledge it or not, we are training the algorithm every time we scroll, click, pause, or engage.
The Algorithm Isn’t the Enemy—It’s a Mirror
Algorithms, at their core, are pattern recognizers. They aren’t evil. They aren’t good. They are reflections of what we pay attention to. Every time we watch a video to the end, every like, every comment, every second spent on a post—it’s all input. The algorithm takes our behavior and gives us more of what we seem to want.
So if your feed is filled with outrage, division, distractions, or drama, the hard truth might be: it’s what you’ve been feeding it.
On the flip side, if you intentionally seek out wisdom, inspiration, truth, or beauty—guess what shows up more often?
What Isaac reminded me is that we are not powerless. We can reshape our digital environment, not through force, but through formation. By curating what we follow, muting the noise, and resisting the impulse to reward toxicity with our attention, we train the algorithm to serve us better.
Digital Behavior Is Discipleship
In a very real sense, how we interact online is shaping who we’re becoming. It’s not just about convenience or entertainment—it’s about character formation. We are being discipled by our screens whether we realize it or not.
And the same way we’re responsible for our spiritual growth, mental health, and relationships, we’re responsible for our digital habits. What we consume, we become.
So maybe the better question is not “What’s wrong with the algorithm?” but “What have I been telling the algorithm I want?”
Guard Your Feed—and Your Device
Alongside our responsibility to engage wisely comes the need to protect ourselves from being manipulated or exploited. Mobile security is no longer optional—it’s essential. From malware-laced ads to data-harvesting apps, the risks are real. Regularly audit your apps. Adjust your privacy settings. Install software updates. Use two-factor authentication. These steps aren’t just tech tips—they’re spiritual hygiene for the digital age.
More importantly, guard your heart as much as your hardware. If an app is feeding your anxiety more than your soul, delete it. If a platform causes you to compare more than connect, walk away. If your phone is making it harder to be present with your family, put it down.
Our Online Lives Are Not Neutral
The algorithms aren't neutral. But neither are we. The good news is: we have more control than we think. Every scroll is a seed. Every search is a signal. And every click is a choice.
So let’s choose wisely. Let’s own the feed. Let’s live like we believe what Isaac said.
Because in the end, the algorithm doesn’t define us—we define it.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."— Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
If this idea challenged or encouraged you, I’d love to keep the conversation going.Follow me on social media for more insights on digital life, media strategy, and living with intention in an algorithm-shaped world.
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