WHERE ARE THEY NOW? GONE WITH THE ALGORITHMIC WIND
Ah, social media. Remember when it was the digital Wild West, a place where anyone with a keyboard and Wi-Fi could share their thoughts, dreams, and questionable cat memes? It was a time when the internet felt like a democracy of ideas—a chaotic, messy, beautiful democracy. But now? It feels more like an oligarchy with algorithms as the ruling class, picking winners and losers based on what suits their billionaire overlords. Spoiler alert: it’s not you.
Take, for example, the plight of Steven Singer, the voice behind *The Gadfly on the Wall Blog*. Once upon a time, this blog was a beacon for those who wanted to challenge the status quo. It was read by millions—yes, millions—of people who were hungry for thoughtful commentary on education and society. But today? Well, let’s just say that even the tumbleweeds have stopped rolling through.
In its heyday, *The Gadfly on the Wall* was pulling in at least half a million readers annually. That’s not just a blog; that’s a movement. But as social media platforms evolved—or devolved, depending on how you look at it—Steven’s readership took a nosedive. In 2021, he had 222,414 hits. By 2022, that number dropped to 124,984. And this year? A paltry 73,121. To put it in perspective, that’s fewer people than the number who willingly watch infomercials about revolutionary kitchen gadgets at 3 AM.
So, what happened? Did people suddenly stop caring about education and societal issues? Did Steven lose his touch? Hardly. The culprit is the algorithm—a shadowy force that determines what you see and what gets buried under a digital mountain of avocado toast photos and TikTok dance challenges.
When social media first burst onto the scene, it was a meritocracy of ideas. The best content rose to the top because people liked it, shared it, and talked about it. But then came the algorithms. Around 2013, these mathematical gatekeepers started deciding what content deserved your attention. And guess what? They weren’t exactly impartial judges. They were programmed to prioritize whatever aligned with the financial and ideological interests of their creators—aka the tech billionaires who own these platforms.
Suddenly, your feed wasn’t filled with the diverse voices of everyday Americans. Instead, it became a curated echo chamber designed to keep you scrolling—and clicking on ads. Thoughtful blogs like *The Gadfly on the Wall* got buried because they didn’t generate enough “engagement,” which is tech-speak for “controversy and outrage.”
And let’s not forget the Supreme Court rulings that have essentially handed over control of our communications systems to a handful of corporations. These decisions have allowed tech giants to consolidate power, making it nearly impossible for independent voices to break through the noise. It’s like trying to shout your message across a canyon while a billionaire stands next to you with a megaphone yelling about his latest rocket launch.
But wait, there’s more! Not only are algorithms suppressing thoughtful content, but they’re also amplifying hateful and divisive ideas. Why? Because fear and outrage are profitable. Nothing keeps people glued to their screens like a good old-fashioned internet brawl. So instead of fostering understanding and unity, social media has become a breeding ground for division and distrust. It’s like a digital Hunger Games, except instead of fighting for survival, we’re fighting over who gets to be right on Twitter.
The irony is almost too much to bear. Social media was supposed to connect us, to democratize information, to give everyone a voice. Instead, it has become a tool for control—a way for the powerful to shape narratives and manipulate public opinion. And blogs like *The Gadfly on the Wall* are paying the price.
Steven Singer was faced with a tough decision: Should he keep fighting the good fight, or should he hang up his keyboard and call it quits? It’s a question that many independent content creators are grappling with in this algorithm-dominated era. How do you keep going when the system seems rigged against you?
The decline of *The Gadfly on the Wall* isn’t just about one blog or one blogger. It’s a microcosm of what’s happening to independent voices everywhere. The internet was supposed to be a place where anyone could share their ideas with the world. Instead, it has become yet another arena where money and power dictate who gets heard.
So where are they now, those independent bloggers and thinkers who once thrived online? Many have been silenced by algorithms that favor clickbait over substance. Others have given up entirely, disillusioned by a system that seems designed to suppress their voices. And some are still hanging on—barely—hoping that maybe, just maybe, things will change.
Will they? Who knows? But one thing is clear: If we want to reclaim the internet as a space for genuine dialogue and diverse perspectives, we need to rethink how it’s governed. Because right now, the algorithms are winning—and we’re all losing.
So here’s to Steven Singer and all the other gadflies out there who refuse to be silenced. Keep buzzing. Keep stinging. The world needs you now more than ever—even if the algorithms don’t agree.
Could This Be Gadfly’s End? Top 12 Articles From 2023 Read By Fewer Than Ever | gadflyonthewallblog https://gadflyonthewallblog.com/2023/12/22/could-this-be-gadflys-end-top-12-articles-from-2023-read-by-fewer-than-ever/
