Drifting into an ‘echo chamber’? Take control of the algorithms that shape your feed

Algorithms are the rules or instructions that help platforms sort and organise huge amounts of content. They look at your activity – like what you watch, search for, follow, pause on or click – to work out what to show you. For example, you like one puppy video and your feed is suddenly full of them.

Recommender systems use algorithms, and other information like your age, gender and location, to decide what content you might like to see or interact with next. Platforms can also program recommender systems to suggest posts, videos and ads that help them meet business goals like growing the number of users or making more money from advertising.

For example, you watch a video criticising the government’s vaccine advice and scroll the comments, then gradually your feed fills with anti-science conspiracies.

Algorithms often promote narrow ideas about what young men and women 'should' be like because these themes get a lot of engagement.

• Girls often get pushed towards makeup, ‘glow-ups’, ‘trad wife’ roles, cleaning hacks, beauty rules and how to be desirable.
• Boys often get pushed towards toughness, muscles, dominance, money, dating ‘rules’, or content that mocks women or emotions.

You can start to believe these roles are expected of you – or that everyone else thinks this way – even when it’s not true. This can leave you feeling pressured, judged, or like you’re 'failing' at being who you’re 'supposed' to be.

• Watching self-improvement or confidence videos: some algorithms push creators with strict ideas about relationships, gender roles or success – sometimes slipping into sexist or homophobic messages.
• Engaging with political opinion posts: reading or watching a few strong opinions can lead to more one-sided content being pushed into your feed. This can promote biased views, or frame certain groups as threats – making unfair ideas feel more common or justified than they really are.
• Looking up makeup or beauty tips: recommended content becomes more extreme, like comparison videos, pressure to be ‘perfect’, or creators pushing that girls should focus on looks over school, hobbies or goals.
• Searching for gym workouts: you may start seeing unrealistic male body ideals, extreme dieting, or ‘grind harder’ content that shames rest or normal body types.
• Being into gaming or streaming: gaming forums often recommend channels where jokes turn into hate, stereotypes or ‘us vs them’ thinking. Over time it can make bullying, harassment or extreme views seem normal.

These shifts usually happen slowly, which makes them harder to notice. That’s why it’s important to look out for them early.

Many boys first encounter harmful content like ‘looksmaxxing’ videos after exploring content about improving your appearance. It can start as:

• gym routines
• skin tips
• posture or style videos.

But the algorithm may gradually push:

• extreme dieting or ‘starvation’ cuts
• obsession with jawlines, height or bone structure
• unsafe ‘hacks’ like bone smashing
• constant self-criticism or comparing yourself to influencers.

This can fuel anxiety, low self-esteem, body image issues and unhealthy habits.

You might click on a few videos about confidence or dating advice. Soon your feed is full of:

• ‘real men don’t show emotion’
• ‘women must be dominated’
• ‘alpha vs beta’ talk
• creators mocking girls, LGBTIQ+ people or ‘weak men’.

At first, it might seem like harmless humour or ‘straight talk’, but over time it pushes a view that being a man means being tough, angry or superior – and that girls and women are inferior.

Some boys and young men get drawn into what’s called the ‘manosphere’ – a group of influencers, forums and communities that promote harmful ideas about masculinity. They often blame women, feminism or society for men’s struggles and encourage unhealthy ideas about relationships, status and power.

You might be in a manosphere echo chamber if:

• most content blames women or feminism for men’s problems
• you hear terms like stacey, chad, red pill, black pill
• humour is used to shame or degrade women
• violence or humiliation is framed as taking control
• extreme opinions are treated like ‘facts’
• you feel pressure to agree or risk being excluded.

These spaces can feel empowering at first – like someone finally ‘gets it’ – but they often promote anger, hopelessness, distrust, and violence.

Look for new content.
Most platforms use recommender systems that guess what you want to see next, based on your past activity. You may need to actively search for different content to rebalance your feed.

Use in-app functions.
Report, mute or block content you don’t want to see. Many apps let you choose ‘See less of this type of content’.

Take a break from being online.
Set time limits and balance online and offline activities.

Get support.
If what you’re seeing affects your daily life, talk to someone you trust or contact Kids Helpline.

Have an open conversation.
Share alternative perspectives and ask them where their views are coming from.

Check the source.
Research the creators they follow - some are paid to get reactions or push certain ideas.

Protect your wellbeing.
Don’t feel pressured to argue online. Use ‘see less of this content’ or take a break if you need to.