I quit the news and it saved my mental health

Video by Matt d'Avella:

The Secret Top 5 Triggers Clickbaiters Don't Tell You!

[I wasted a lot of time on-line. Whenever I catch myself scrolling these days, I stop and think ... isn't there something better I could be doing? We all kind of know when we're being clickbaited. I asked Grok for some specific examples. Plus I want to test this with a "clickbait" title ...]

Clickbait thrives on exploiting human psychology—curiosity, fear, greed, you name it. Here’s a rundown of the top 5 triggers that make people click like moths to a flame:

 

1. Curiosity Gap - Headlines that tease just enough to leave you hanging, like “You’ll Never Believe What Happens Next!” or “This One Weird Trick Changed Everything.” They promise answers but don’t spill the beans, so you’re itching to find out. It’s the digital equivalent of a cliffhanger.
2. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) - Think “Last Chance to See This!” or “Everyone’s Talking About This—Are You In?” It plays on the anxiety that you’re out of the loop, pushing you to click before the opportunity vanishes. Scarcity and urgency are key here.
3. Shock and Awe - Outrageous or surprising claims grab attention fast: “He Did WHAT in Public?!” or “This Secret Will Leave You Speechless.” It’s all about hitting emotional extremes—whether it’s disbelief, anger, or amazement—to reel you in.
4. Promise of Easy Gains - Greed’s a hell of a motivator. “Millionaires Hate This Simple Trick!” or “Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Days!” dangles the carrot of effortless rewards, whether it’s money, looks, or status. People click hoping for a shortcut, even if their gut screams “scam.”
5. Relatability with a Twist - Titles like “Only 90s Kids Will Understand This!” or “If You’ve Ever Done This, You’re a Genius” tap into identity and validation. They make you feel seen, then add a layer of intrigue to seal the deal. It’s a sneaky way to make the click feel personal.

These triggers work because they hack into how our brains are wired—craving closure, fearing loss, chasing rewards. Next time you see a headline that gets your pulse up, you’ll know why. What’s the worst clickbait you’ve fallen for lately?

It's not just inflation. Price gouging is a thing.

Video from Squirrel Tribe:

Syrian minorities being slaughtered

Okay, one thing they're not telling you is that many of those being slaughtered are Christian. Otherwise the typical Christian American taxpayer might object to funding this outrage.

This book sounds compelling:

Was taking the Covid vaccine Worth a Shot? A new book by Caroline Pover, written on behalf of Brianne Dressen who lives in the USA, chronicles the horrific story of how she was severely injured by the Covid vaccine after enrolling on the AstraZeneca trial in November 2020. Caroline sensitively and professionally tells the heart wrenching, eye-opening account of how Brianne Dressen’s life was turned upside down and irreversibly changed forever the day she chose to volunteer to enroll on the UK-led AstraZeneca clinical trial.

[Read more]

Scammers gonna scam ...

More on how AI can make completely fake content on youtube:

EXPOSING “AI INFLUENCERS” AND THE SKETCHY BRANDS BEHIND THEM | Over the Influence Ep 1 from the Carolyn Joannie channel:

Torn between hope and anxiety ...

I'm opening this blog for comment (for now, anyway). I decided I can't tell you "What they don't tell you" because I don't follow what they're telling you anymore. Even if I did, I can't tell what's real or fake. IMO, 80% of commercials I hear online use AI voices. I suspect a great deal of them are produced *entirely* by AI. What does that say about the news?

So what should I do with this blog? I closed the comment section long ago but I'm no longer concerned about losing it. I'd love hearing from you! In the meantime, here is a video about how AI is taking over net content, and another about "bullshit jobs."

Are you being shadow banned?

X decided to let their AI program, "Grok," be used for free. I'm going to have a great time goofing off with it. On a lark I asked how I could tell if I was being "shadow banned" (I know I am, but what would they tell me?). Here was the reply:

Determining if you're being shadow banned can be tricky because social media platforms don't officially acknowledge shadow banning. However, there are several signs and methods you can use to check if your visibility on platforms like Instagram, Twitter/X, or others has been reduced:

General Signs of Shadow Banning:

1. Sudden Drop in Engagement:
   • A significant decrease in likes, comments, shares, or views on your posts could indicate a shadow ban. If your content usually gets a lot of interaction but suddenly stops, this might be a sign.

     
2. Posts Not Showing in Hashtag Searches:
   • If your posts do not appear in hashtag searches, even when you know you've used popular or relevant hashtags, you might be shadow banned.

     
3. Invisible to Non-Followers:
   • Your content might not appear in the feeds of people who don't follow you or on the platform's explore or discovery pages.

     

Platform-Specific Checks:

• Instagram:
  • Use a tool like the Instagram Account Status feature for professional accounts to see if your content is eligible for recommendations. For personal accounts, you can test by posting a unique, rarely used hashtag and having friends check if your post appears under that hashtag.

    
• Twitter/X:
  • Log out or use incognito mode to search for your username or tweets. If they don't appear, you might be shadow banned. Alternatively, use third-party tools designed to check for shadow bans.

    
• Facebook:
  • Check if your posts appear in other users' feeds by asking friends to search for your posts or check if your posts show up in relevant groups or hashtag searches.

    
• TikTok:
  • A sudden drop in views or your videos not showing up on the "For You" page might suggest a shadow ban. There's no direct way to check, but monitoring engagement can give clues.

    

Steps to Potentially Reverse a Shadow Ban:

• Review Your Content: Ensure your posts comply with community guidelines. Remove any content that might violate platform rules.
• Avoid Banned Hashtags: Using banned or inappropriate hashtags can trigger a shadow ban. Always check if hashtags are banned before use.

  
• Reduce Post Frequency: If you've been posting too frequently, take a break for a few days. This can help reset your account's visibility.
• Avoid Spammy Behavior: Don't engage in mass following, liking, or comment spam, as these can flag your account for shadow banning.

  

While these methods can help identify a shadow ban, they are not foolproof. Platforms continuously update their algorithms, and what might be a sign today might not be tomorrow. If you suspect you've been shadow banned, observing your account's behavior over time and adjusting your interaction patterns accordingly is advisable.