Our social media feeds are full of slop. AI-generated garbage, news headlines reminiscent of George Orwell, sponsored skincare ads, and everything Labubu-related is taking over our algorithm. These silly apps are making it increasingly difficult to find the real, down-to-earth content that you signed up for in the first place. It makes you wonder, is the positivity, whimsy, and the wonder of old-Internet gone forever? As your hopes fade, suddenly, a shining beacon of human magnetism brightens your phone screen.
Behold! It’s a video of a young Indonesian boy, balanced atop the bow of a precariously slender water vessel as 30 men row vigorously behind him. Gliding over the choppy waters, the boy is poised, balanced, and throwing down perfectly rhythmic dance moves, despite the chaos in his wake. Hypnotised by his movements, your curiosity is officially sparked, lighting up the wholesome receptors of your brain and making you bob your head in rhythm. You want to be just like him: Calm, collected, and absolutely vibing.
Curiosity burns in your heart and suddenly you must know everything about this boy’s magnetic aura. This wholesomeness and intrigue remind us of the information-seeking nature of the old-Internet days. It sparks our thirst for knowledge and encourages us to pursue content that makes us feel good, instead of doomscrolling the muddy waters of our prescribed algorithm.
