OPINION: Repeated viral events expose intentional algorithm amplification to distort reality
Few moments rival the sight of New Zealand Parliament erupting into a thunderous haka, right after a new MP’s debut speech, only for the Speaker to suspend proceedings.
Such moments are “crack cocaine” for social media algorithms, and influencers (for and against) love to inject these moments right into the veins of the algorithm.
The incident turned into a viral clip instantly, clocking millions of views, proving once again how such events are intentionally crafted as a drug, to amplify social media algorithms, with selective consensus, to distort public opinion.
This was a calculated play by Te Pāti Māori, echoing their similar stunt in June, which resulted in three MPs receiving unprecedented 21-day suspensions. Te Pāti Māori knew the formula: perform the haka knowing it would be filmed, and let social media influencers do the rest.
The Kaipara clip exploded across platforms, clipped, captioned, and commented on by everyone, including Elon Musk, who called it ‘mental.’
This can lead to discourse intended to change the world for the better, or to division, and in some cases, violence. Some users are awakened by the algorithm’s workings, and many are not.
You can see many users spending countless hours arguing with others, because algorithms reward it, from debating whether such an act is civilized or appropriate in a place like Parliament to endorsing it for many reasons.
Te Pāti Māori’s use of the haka, especially after guaranteeing Parliament that they would not do it again, was purely for this purpose.
Think of it in the context of the Matrix movie. Social media is a world created by ‘agents’ that amplify algorithms to trick you into distraction, while the ‘architects,’ such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, dictate the rules. You can also view governments as doing the same: creating laws and amplifying events with the help of biased legacy media to keep you distracted and misinformed.
Remember to engage wisely, be aware of algorithm-driven amplification, and engage with viewpoints in real life without holding strong opinions.