Why the Best Ideas Often Die in the Algorithm

(and what this means for us in Indonesia)

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately… maybe too much.

Despite all the good that technology brings, I can’t help but feel that social media, for all its promise, has quietly become one of the greatest threats to our collective growth. Not because of what it shows us… but because of what it doesn’t.

I see it every day: content that uplifts, educates, or builds society is buried beneath oceans of viral entertainment, “shitposts,” and harmful noise. Meanwhile, the creators trying to spark critical thinking or spread useful knowledge are left shouting into the void.

And in countries like Indonesia, where digital literacy is still catching up, the effects are even more profound.

✨ I’ve spent the last few weeks digging into research on this.

And here’s what I’ve found:

🔻 Platforms reward emotion, not value.

Clickbait, outrage, and low-effort content outperform educational or meaningful discussions. This isn’t just theory, it’s in the algorithm’s DNA.

🔻 Media literacy is dangerously low.

Only ~25% of Indonesian users can reliably spot hoaxes. Most people don’t even realize they’re spreading misinformation.

🔻 Echo chambers are growing.

Encrypted WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, even family group chats, they’re breeding grounds for unchecked falsehoods. Some content goes viral precisely because it’s harmful or polarizing.

🔻 Our kids are being shaped by this.

Exposure to prank videos, toxic influencers, and junk food ads on social media is changing how the next generation thinks, and eats. It’s not just mental health at stake. It’s physical, ethical, and societal health too.

And maybe the most painful part?

The people who need quality content the most… are often the ones most excluded from it.

🧠 But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m not here to rant. I’m here because I believe we can do something about it.

We can:

– Build and support digital literacy programs in schools, workplaces, and mosques.

– Help creators who care about truth, ethics, and growth find their audiences.

– Push for better algorithmic transparency from platforms.

– Encourage community-based efforts to call out misinformation with compassion and facts.

✨ For me personally, this has shifted how I see my role in tech and content.

I no longer just ask, “Will this go viral?”

Now I ask, “Will this make us wiser?”

Because if we let the algorithm define what matters, we’ll lose what really does.

🌍 Let’s not leave the future of knowledge, values, or our society up to chance, or clicks.

Let’s design it.

If you’ve ever felt the same tension between tech’s potential and its pitfalls, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you stay intentional with what you consume and create?