The Digital Life of Arthur Maaswinkel: ‘I Saw a Murder on My Timeline’

Algorithms guide us through the endless maze of the internet. Sometimes helpful, sometimes awkward, and occasionally downright unsettling. This month, we explore the bubble of Arthur Maaswinkel (21), a bachelor’s student in Communication and Information Sciences.

What’s your most remarkable experience with algorithms?

‘I play a video game called Phasmophobia, where you work as a team to hunt ghosts. After a week of playing it every night, I suddenly started seeing memes about the game on TikTok, even though I’d never mentioned it there. I play Phasmophobia on my computer, not my phone. How do these apps know? It feels too coincidental.’

What’s something you wish you hadn’t seen?

‘I recently saw a murder in my Instagram Reels. After watching an innocent video about watch repairs, I was suddenly shown a clip where a man and woman were shot in bed. The quality was poor, but judging by the comments, it appeared to be a real video of two people who are no longer alive.’

Do you dwell on such videos, or do you just swipe past?

‘I grew up in an era when the internet was largely unregulated. There were a lot of extreme statements and videos back then. Because of that, I’ve developed a thick skin, and the online world doesn’t affect me much.

‘I often see graphic content on social media, but this was different. It made me wonder: How does this video slip through social media’s filters, and why is it being shown to me?’

Are you in a filter bubble that mostly reinforces your own views? If so, do you try to break out of it?

‘Absolutely. But instead of trying to break out, I often try to get back into my bubble when I’m shown less interesting posts. For example, I only like content I truly enjoy.

‘I mainly use social media for entertainment, so I don’t mind the filter bubble there. I prefer to read the news through a dedicated app because I don’t want to end up in a political filter bubble.’

Do you ever discuss other people’s bubbles with them?

‘Yes, I occasionally talk about it with close friends. I have stereotypical male interests like watches and cars. My female friends see completely different content.

‘I notice the difference most clearly on Threads. I see shallow posts, while people around me are shown more political statements. Compared to my friends, it feels like I’m living in a different reality.’

Do algorithms influence your viewing and listening habits?

‘I’ve noticed that my patience for watching a 30-minute video has significantly decreased. The constant stream of new stimuli on social media has made me accustomed to short, fast-paced content. I’ll only watch longer videos if I’m really interested.’

Do algorithms affect your online experience more positively or negatively?

‘Overall, positively. For example, my primary interest is watches, something I discovered after accidentally seeing a watch repair video – thanks to the algorithm. I also enjoy photography, so I see platforms like Instagram as a creative outlet.

‘I’m fortunate that I don’t care much about likes. The moment you tie your self-worth to likes, social media can become very unhealthy.’

_Advertentie.