In recent years, social media has become a battleground where ideas, opinions and beliefs are contested, and where the dominant players fight for attention, clicks and engagement. It often feels like we are caught in a never-ending war zone where our side must win at all costs.

One of the key reasons for this dynamic is the artificial scarcity that social media platforms create through amplification and attention capture. Reach is a scarce commodity on social media, and this scarcity leads to fierce competition among users and groups to get their messages heard and to capture the attention of others. This creates an environment where echo chambers and tribalism thrive, and where different viewpoints and ideas are suppressed or even attacked.

The problem with this approach is that it limits our ability to engage with new ideas, to listen to different perspectives, and to learn from those who think differently from us. It also encourages epistemic arrogance, where we become convinced that our own views are the only correct ones, and that those who disagree with us are ignorant or misguided.

To address this problem, it is essential that we shift our focus from the distribution of messages to the apportionment of users’ attention. In other words, we need to put users in control of their own attention and ensure that they have the freedom to listen to whomever they choose, even if we don’t like them. This requires a fundamental rethinking of the design of social media platforms, and a recognition that attention is a valuable and limited resource that should be treated with care and respect.

At the heart of this approach is the concept of Recognition of Complexity, which is essential in times of change and uncertainty. Recognition of Complexity involves recognizing that our own knowledge and beliefs are limited and fallible, and that we must be open to the possibility that we may be wrong. It also requires us to be open to the perspectives of others, even if we disagree with them, and to engage in constructive dialogue and debate.

Echo chambers and tribalism are the antithesis of Recognition of Complexity, and they threaten our ability to learn, grow and evolve as individuals and as a society. By prioritizing the apportionment of attention over the distribution of messages, and by embracing Recognition of Complexity, we can create social media platforms that promote constructive dialogue, respect for different perspectives, and a commitment to learning and growth.

In conclusion, social media has the potential to be a powerful tool for communication, connection and learning, but it is currently mired in a war zone mentality that prioritizes attention capture and tribalism over constructive dialogue and Recognition of Complexity. To address this problem, we must shift our focus from the distribution of messages to the apportionment of attention, and we must embrace a commitment to Recognition of Complexity and respect for different perspectives. Only then can we unlock the true potential of social media and use it to create a better, more informed, and more connected world.