The Algorithm Has Trained You More Than You’ve Trained Yourself
Why your attention is fractured and how to reclaim it before it’s too late
You don’t think for yourself anymore.
Not fully. Not purely.
And deep down, you know it.
Your phone lights up.
You open the same three apps without thinking.
You scroll until your brain feels like it’s been dipped in sugar and static.
You didn’t plan any of this.
You didn’t decide that your morning would start with a 15-second video about someone’s dog, followed by a meme, followed by bad news, followed by a stranger bragging about their new business.
But here you are.
The algorithm is your teacher.
And you’ve been an excellent student.
How you were trained without knowing it
Every like, every scroll, every pause was a vote.
You taught machines what grabs your attention, and they built a world around it.
Now, you’re surrounded by content designed to bypass your self-control.
Each swipe trains your brain to expect the next dopamine hit faster than the last.
The cost?
You can’t focus anymore.
And it’s not your fault.
But it is your responsibility.
If you don’t build a system to protect your attention, you will live your life reacting to machines that know you better than you know yourself.
The myth of control
People like to think they’re in control of their attention.
They’re not.
You’re not either.
Your environment trains your mind.
Your habits train your body.
Your apps train your instincts.
When you open Instagram, you’re not choosing what to see. You’re letting an algorithm choose for you.
If you spend two hours a day scrolling, that’s two hours of training.
Every. Single. Day.
Now, imagine what would happen if you spent that same time training yourself.
Reading. Writing. Learning. Thinking deeply.
It’s not just about being “productive.”
It’s about rewiring your brain to focus on what matters.
Your brain is a mirror
What you consume is what you become.
If your brain feels scattered, it’s because your attention has been scattered.
If your thoughts feel shallow, it’s because you’re feeding yourself shallow information.
Algorithms reward what gets clicks, not what builds character.
They want you reactive, not reflective.
Angry, not calm.
Jealous, not inspired.
This is why even “positive” content often leaves you feeling empty. It’s not made for your growth, it’s made for your attention.
Reclaiming your attention is a radical act
In 2025, focus is rebellion.
Silence is rebellion.
Reflection is rebellion.
If you can sit still and think without reaching for your phone, you’re already in the top 1%.
Here’s how to start:
Turn your phone into a tool, not a slot machine.
Delete apps that exist purely to keep you scrolling. Use web versions if you need them.Set a time for inputs.
Decide when you’ll consume information, instead of letting it drip-feed you all day.Journal before you scroll.
Write down your thoughts before you absorb anyone else’s.Use AI with intention.
Don’t ask it for entertainment. Ask it for clarity. Treat it like a coach, not a feed.
Building your own algorithm
The future belongs to people who know how to train themselves better than machines can train them.
You can build your own algorithm.
It’s called a system.
A system of habits.
A system of thinking.
A system of what you allow in your head and what you reject.
AI is powerful.
But without self-control, it’s just another dopamine machine.
With control, it’s leverage — a way to multiply your focus and creativity.
The hard truth
If you don’t choose what to pay attention to, someone else already has.
And they don’t want you to be free. They want you to be predictable.
This is why I write.
This is why Prompt Mind exists.
To remind you that your attention is your life.
And once you learn to guard it, you can finally start building something meaningful.
The algorithm doesn’t care if you succeed.
But you should.
Prompt/Mind
Tootroo, thank you!
@Topher_barr look