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Trump—the name triggers everyone. You either think "Finally" or "Oh no." News about Donald Trump is perceived differently and carries diverse messages and emotions. One thing they're never: boring. Polarization has become profitable, no matter which side you're on. Both sides make the same people rich—primarily the media and platforms that exploit and amplify this trend with their algorithms. A Trump tweet generates more clicks than regular news. CNN and Fox News doubled their ratings through Trump coverage. But Trump isn't the problem. He's just an example of our society's growing division through polarization and the need for ever more extreme opinions and positions. Social media amplifies this. Your feed, where your news appears, isn't neutral. It's a psychological experiment, and you're the guinea pig. In this article, you'll learn how social media glues you to the screen, why it's radicalizing society more and more, and how Trump understood and leverages this phenomenon. We'll explain how to recognize this mental reprogramming and free yourself from polarization. This leads to more conscious consumption, a more objective perspective, and ultimately contributes to a better, more understanding world—echoing Nietzsche's call for self-overcoming in midlife reinvention. Why Your Feed Is No Accident You scroll through your Instagram or X feed. Each new post seems random—but realize, they're precisely planned. The algorithms measure your behavior second by second: dwell time on posts, what you like and what not. And then they decide what to show next. Usually not what's especially important, interesting, or helpful—it's what keeps you hooked longest. Time is money, and your attention is the internet's most valuable currency. The Engagement Algorithm – Why Anger Hooks Longer Than Joy An internal Facebook study proves it: Angry posts generate 5x more engagement than positive ones. The same goes for news. Subconsciously, we need these negative headlines to satisfy our information craving. Our brain is evolutionarily wired to react to threats. Media exploit—or serve—this weakness. Try it: Scroll your feed. Count: How many posts provoke, how many make you happy? Another exploited factor is the dopamine trap. Dopamine is a body hormone released as a reward for certain events, giving us a happiness rush. These releases are highly addictive, making us crave more. Often, it's not even the message itself triggering the feeling, but the anticipation—the grab for the phone, scrolling the feed. The Echo Chamber Construction – How Algorithms Learn Your Preferences Independent, neutral information should be a top goal for news services. The problem: This type of info doesn't lead to high dwell times and interaction rates. Corporations know exactly what keeps you on their sites. They analyze your online behavior and reactions minutely: How long do you view a post? What do you like, share, comment? What interests others with similar behavior. Based on this data, your feed is optimized for you. Result: You see more of the same. Instead of objective and diverse views on topics, you get constant confirmation of your preformed opinion. Your worldview becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The problematic part: It's always possible to justify a position—no matter how wrong or absurd—and find studies and opinions confirming it. Instead of questioning, it's easier to cling to your stance—especially when algorithms "prove" daily that you're right, fueling collective unconscious biases as in Jung's frameworks. The Slippery Slope Effect In the end, it's like any addiction. For the same satisfaction, we need more and harder stuff. On social media, it's similar. YouTube's algorithm systematically leads users to ever more extreme content. Fitness videos turn into diet obsessions, political news into conspiracy theories. Why? Extreme content holds longer. And that's good for the numbers. The Trump Phenomenon – Polarization Perfected Donald Trump's success ties directly to this phenomenon. Whether he consciously exploits it to boost popularity or it's just his nature is debatable. Fact: He always elicits emotional reactions—positive or negative. It's become nearly impossible to take a neutral position on the topic. This reflects in media too. Instead of objectively engaging with content, they polarize. Trump's statements are praised to the skies or dragged through the mud. And people want it. It's not even that they love or enjoy this content, but we need the provocation. The confrontation with dissenters. And the deceptive certainty of being on the right, the good side. This development is problematic, of course. Every political camp gets pushed into its own echo chamber. Instead of constructive debate and seeking consensus and compromise, it's just confirmation of one's opinion to discredit others. Consequence: General opinion and discussion culture has suffered significantly in recent years, and the trend toward division will unfortunately continue for some time. Reality Distortion – How Algorithms Shape Your Worldview The news we consume, we often take for reality. But your feed isn't a mirror of the world. It shows only what hooks you longest. This reality distortion influences your perception, decisions, and entire worldview, amplifying AI anxiety in an already uncertain digital age. Statistics vs. Felt Reality What we see often, we think is frequent. Examples: Crime: We feel less safe, though crime rates drop. Negative crime news is overrepresented in media. Politics: Your political position seems moderate, the other extreme—because algorithms confront us with content confirming our biases. World Events: Disasters and crises seem more frequent and worse. They generate attention and satisfy our sensation craving. This shows we live in a bubble where our fears, prejudices, and convictions are constantly reinforced. Objective info and nuanced perspectives barely break through. This distorted reality is problematic—it makes us manipulable and leads to irrational decisions. Plus, it coarsens society with ever more divided and radical camps.atisch, weil sie uns manipulierbar macht und zu irrationalen Entscheidungen verleitet. Außerdem führt sie zu einer Verrohung der Gesellschaft mit immer gespalteneren und radikaleren Lagern. Back to Independence – Your Personal Reset To regain independent, free opinion formation, we must break from this spiral. We can't wait for media or politics to steer this positively. It's up to each of us to contribute to better discussion culture and thus a more open, constructive society. That you've read this far shows you've recognized the problem and developed awareness. Deepen this and work toward more critical, objective consumption. The goal isn't ditching social media entirely. But question content, develop understanding for differing opinions, allow them. Below are practical strategies for conscious news handling: Your Algorithm Audit: 5 Minutes for More Clarity Emotions Check: Scroll 5 minutes and note: What feelings does each post evoke? Themes Clustering: What 3 themes dominate your feed? Echo Chamber Test: Do you see opinions contradicting yours? Time Measurement: Which posts hold you longest? These quick exercises help spot patterns in your consumption. Are you shown mostly negative or provocative content? Do you notice, that certain themes overrepresented (e.g., climate, war, Trump)? Are constructive solutions discussed, or does doomsaying prevail? Do you get diverse views or always the same opinions? Algorithm Hack: 5 Immediate Strategies for Better Facts Algorithm Sabotage: Like "boring," constructive posts deliberately. Avoid interacting with upsetting content. The algorithm relearns. Diversity Injection: Follow 5 accounts with other perspectives. Not to adopt their views, but to break your echo chamber. Trump Test: For every Trump post, ask: "Who benefits from me getting upset?" Then consciously don't engage. 15-Minute Rule: Limit news consumption to 15 minutes daily. Actively seek info instead of passive scrolling. Offline Balance: For every online input, an offline one: Read a book, take a walk, have a real conversation. Common Objections If you're thinking, sounds good but how to implement, read on. Here are typical objections and how to refute them directly: "But I need to stay informed!": Understandable need. But are you really "informed" scrolling X for an hour? 15 minutes of conscious reading from carefully selected sources brings more. Prioritize quality over quantity; actively seek info instead of passive intake. "I can still decide what to believe": Illusion. Constant drip wears the stone. The more we hear an idea, the more we believe it. "This is all conspiracy theory": No, it's a business model. Platforms' goal is binding users and capturing attention. They analyze data and our psychology. Not evil intent, but like any company: profit maximization. Conclusion: You Have More Control Than You Think Our media landscape is shifting toward more polarization—and it won't change soon. Algorithms dictate what you see. But you can learn to handle this info processing and even use it. It starts with conscious, attentive consumption. Develop a sense for how you and others are influenced. Analyze your patterns, question convictions, break from your echo chamber. It's your choice: Remain a passive victim of algorithms—or a conscious shaper of your reality? You now have the tools. Use them! If you need professional help, book a free Identity & Transformation discovery call. We help you to rediscover healthy online habits and reach digital liberation. And more important: Exchange with others. Have understanding for differing views. This contributes not just to your well-being but a better, more open discussion culture. Interested in further interesting articles on personal sovereignty strategies and mental freedom? Check out our Blog!