Social Media Algorithms Are Tearing Us Apart—It’s Time to Reconnect in Person

A Call for Change: Let’s Step Outside and Meet Each Other Again

As I meet voters across our community during my campaign for local office, one truth comes up again and again: people are fed up. We’re exhausted by division, fatigued by negativity, and deeply worried about where we’re headed—both as a nation and as neighbors. The culprit, in many conversations, is clear: social media and its powerful, invisible algorithms.

How Algorithms Divide Us

Social media sites, once places to share photos and keep up with friends, have evolved into machines that thrive on outrage, misinformation, and discord. Behind every “like,” “share,” or “recommendation” is a complex algorithm designed not to inform or unite us, but to keep us endlessly scrolling. The more extreme or sensational a post, the more likely it is to be promoted—because controversy is profitable. As a nation, this is wrecking us.

These algorithms feed us what we already believe, amplifying our opinions and hardening our disagreements. They wall us off from those who think differently, creating echo chambers that make it easier to see our neighbors not as fellow citizens, but as adversaries. We lose the ability to have real conversations, to compromise, or even to empathize.

We Need Change—And It Starts With Us

I understand the lure of social media—I used to spend hours on it myself. But I made a decision to leave it behind after receiving death threats because I am running for Russell Township Trustee, and I urge you to do the same. If you’re feeling isolated, angry, or powerless in today’s climate, know that you are not alone. But also know that a better way is possible.

Change is wanted and needed, not just in our elections but in the way we relate to one another every day. Technology was meant to bring us closer. Instead, it’s driving us apart. It’s time to reclaim our community from screens and algorithms.

Let’s Meet—For Real

My campaign isn’t just about policy; it’s about people. That’s why I’m out here, shaking hands, knocking on doors, and listening to your stories face-to-face. I invite you to join me—not just at campaign events, but in your own neighborhoods. Step outside. Say hello to the neighbor whose yard sign you disagree with. Talk to the person you’ve never seen at church, or the one who skips every protest you attend.

When we meet in real life (IRL), we find common ground that social media buries. We discover that while we may not always see eye-to-eye, we share hopes for our children, our schools, and our future. These are conversations that algorithms can never replicate.

It’s Time to Log Off and Reconnect

Let’s stop letting corporate algorithms shape our thoughts and divide our communities. Let’s get back outside, meet one another face-to-face, and rebuild the trust and understanding that have always been the backbone of our nation. Together, we can move past the wreckage and build something stronger—one conversation at a time.