Breaking the Feed
Verse & Reflection
I’ve always been curious about how the media shapes us—both as a society and as individuals. It’s everywhere, woven into the fabric of our daily lives, influencing how we think, what we fear, what we value. I began to wonder: where did this all come from? How did it gain so much power over our collective and individual minds? I needed to unpack it, to trace its history, and understand its effects so that I could free myself from its grip.
It started with the printing press—ink on paper, spreading ideas faster than ever before, empowering people with knowledge that was once out of reach. The rise of radio and television connected us further, giving us voices and faces to follow, creating shared experiences. It brought us closer, but it also meant we began absorbing what we were told without always questioning it. We trusted the screens and speakers, but they also shaped our understanding of what mattered.
Then the internet came, an endless stream of information, a flood we didn’t anticipate. News, opinions, updates—suddenly it was all at our fingertips. But with that came the constant noise: fear, comparison, and subtle influence. We stopped questioning, stopped pausing to think for ourselves. Algorithms, agendas, and carefully curated images shaped our beliefs without us even noticing.
I realized how easy it was to let these external forces mold our thoughts and identities, how fear became normalized, and overwhelm turned into background noise. We forgot to ask, "Is this real? Does this serve me?"
So I had to step back, to find the space where I could think clearly again. I discovered that we can choose what we take in, decide which stories we believe, and turn off the stream. There’s power in the pause, in questioning what we’re fed, in curating our own minds.
This poem is my way of reflecting on that journey—how the media can shape us, but also how we can break free from it. We are more than the stories we are told. We are the stories we choose to live.
Poem
It began with ink on hands,
pages passed from person to person,
words carrying weight,
ideas sparking change.
We read and we thought,
slowly,
carefully,
building our beliefs
with eyes wide open.
Then came the voices—
radio waves breaking through the silence,
stories carried through the air,
followed by pictures on a screen,
bringing the world into our homes.
We learned to trust the flicker of light,
to believe the voices,
to feel connected to lives far away.
But the flood came fast—
a never-ending stream of news,
images,
noise.
The internet,
promising connection,
offering everything.
We fed it our attention,
gave it our time,
and in return,
it shaped us.
Now the stream never stops.
It tells us what to fear,
what to want,
who to be.
Voices blend into one,
and we can’t always tell where our thoughts end
and theirs begin.
The constant hum fills the gaps,
And we can step away.
We can do that.
Take breaks,
weave in and out of the stream,
choosing when to listen
and when to let silence speak.
We don’t have to be pulled by the current,
caught in its endless rush.
We can stand on the shore,
watch the waves roll by,
dip our toes when we choose,
and step back when we need stillness.
The tide is not our master;
we are free to rise
above the noise.
In the stillness,
there’s power in the pause.
We are more than algorithms,
more than curated lives on a feed.
Our thoughts are our own
when we take the time to listen,
to ask, "What do I believe?
What is real to me?"
Freedom isn’t found in scrolling,
it’s in choosing what to let in.
It's in knowing when to unplug,
when to question,
when to stop letting the stream
tell us who we are.
The media’s hold loosens
when we remember we’re not just watchers,
we’re thinkers,
creators,
individuals with our own stories.
We are not shaped by the noise.
We shape ourselves
in the quiet we choose to reclaim.
Integration
After exploring how the media shapes our thoughts and identity, it’s important to remember that we can take control of what influences us. Here are some reflections and practical tools to help you navigate the media landscape with more awareness and intention:
1. Be Mindful of Your Consumption
Pay attention to what you're consuming. Ask yourself:
Why am I watching/reading this?
How does it make me feel?
Is this content helping or hurting my mental and emotional state?
The more mindful you are, the less likely you are to passively absorb messages that don’t serve you.
2. Curate Your Feed
You have the power to shape your media environment. Unfollow or mute accounts that trigger negative emotions, fear, or comparison. Instead, follow accounts that inspire, uplift, and align with your values. Be selective about the news sources you trust—quality over quantity is key.
3. Set Boundaries
The constant stream of media can be overwhelming, so it’s crucial to set boundaries:
- Limit screen time: Designate times for media consumption and stick to them. Try tech-free mornings or evenings to create space for real-world experiences.
- Take digital detoxes: Regularly disconnect from social media and the news. Even a short break can give you clarity and help you reconnect with yourself.
4. Practice Critical Thinking
Don’t accept everything at face value. When consuming media, ask:
- Who created this? What’s their agenda?
- Is this information fact-based or opinion?
- What’s the evidence?
Developing critical thinking skills will allow you to discern truth from manipulation and protect your beliefs from external influence.
5. Prioritize Real-Life Experiences
The media can pull you into a virtual world of curated lives, but remember that the most meaningful moments happen offline. Engage in activities that ground you: spend time in nature, create something with your hands, have face-to-face conversations. Real experiences help you stay connected to who you truly are.
6. Find Your Pause
In the midst of the noise, there is always the option to pause. Take time to reflect, breathe, and process what you’ve taken in before reacting or forming an opinion. This space gives you control over your thoughts and allows you to respond with intention rather than being swept up in the current.
7. Seek Balance
Balance what you take in with what you give out. Spend as much time creating, thinking, and reflecting as you do consuming. Write, meditate, move your body—these actions help you reconnect with your own voice and silence the external noise.
8. Stay True to Your Values
At the core of this journey is staying true to who you are. Know your values and let them guide your choices. The media will always try to influence you, but when you’re rooted in your own beliefs and intentions, it’s easier to filter out what doesn’t align.
The media doesn’t have to define us.
We can navigate it thoughtfully, taking in what enriches us and rejecting what doesn’t. Freedom comes from awareness, choice, and the courage to step back when needed. The more you practice, the more you’ll realize that you are the author of your own story.
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