Platform-Hopping and “Dear Algorithm”: Evolving Rituals in a Fragmented Digital World
In recent weeks, many people have begun rethinking where—and how—they engage online. As users move between platforms, they are reassessing their digital spaces, asking: How can I make these experiences work and feel better for me? This shift is evident in the rise of “algorithmic intentions,” with users now directly addressing “The Algorithm,” making specific requests: “Dear Algorithm, bring me people who get it,” or “Please, just show me good news today.”
What may appear as a quirky trend actually speaks to something deeper. As people evaluate their digital habits, they’re not just seeking new apps or spaces but a sense of control within them. This ritual of “talking to the algorithm” reflects a collective desire to be intentional about our digital presence and acknowledges the powerful role algorithms play in shaping what we see, who we connect with, and how we experience the world. Beyond the algorithm itself, this also points to a broader, more intentional approach to how we engage with the digital environments we inhabit—considering everything from platform architecture to the systems governing our connections.
As users grapple with these influences, they are starting to see the digital world not just as a place of consumption, but as a space where they can actively shape the tools and structures that impact their experiences. The desire for agency goes beyond simply requesting specific content—it extends to questioning and interacting with the broader systems and infrastructures of digital platforms. This shift can feel empowering: users aren’t passive consumers but active participants in the design and flow of their digital environments.
Dual-Addressing: Communicating with Both Human and Software Audiences
In this context, people are learning to address both human and algorithmic “audiences” to shape online experiences that reflect their values and preferences. This practice of dual-addressing goes beyond algorithms alone and now includes platform design and architecture. Whether it’s adjusting a dating profile to appeal to both potential matches and keyword filters, or tweaking a job description to satisfy both human hiring managers and AI-driven resume sorting systems, users are navigating multiple layers of influence.
This dynamic is not only present in social media, dating, and hiring but also in leadership contexts like performance management, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making. Here, leaders must balance human actions with the software systems used to measure and influence them. For example, when setting performance metrics, executives need to consider how software tracks productivity while also understanding the behaviors and contributions of their teams that may not be fully captured by data. Similarly, in resource allocation, decisions about distributing resources are influenced by both algorithmic recommendations based on historical data and human factors such as team morale or organizational culture—elements that algorithms might miss. In strategic planning, leaders must be aware that the metrics they rely on are only as accurate as the data available, while still aligning those metrics with broader, human-driven goals. In these ways, leaders are learning to navigate the complex interplay between human judgment and machine-driven systems to achieve the best outcomes.
Remake The Rules: Evolving Our Thinking for the Information Age
At Remake The Rules, we recognize this shift toward reclaiming our relationship with powerful information systems. Our work focuses on helping people navigate, influence, and engage with both algorithms and the broader systems that shape their digital interactions. We teach our clients to be intentional about the tools and spaces they use, whether for personal connections or professional endeavors.
Through the study of probabilistic thinking, information science, and decision science, Remake The Rules equips individuals to engage more thoughtfully with their digital environments. We empower people to understand not only how algorithms work but also how to “talk back” to them in ways that ensure online interactions align with their personal values. By encouraging clients to master these systems, we help them shape outcomes that are both empowering and aligned with their true intentions.
