Center of Gravity

I am a constant receptacle of information

No matter what I’m doing – whether I’m cooking, cleaning, eating, or even using the bathroom, there is something on. What does it mean to have such a massive volume of information coming in at all times? How does that affect me?

I’m willing to bet that you’re in a similar position. Our generation has unprecedented access to unimaginable amounts of information, and if you’re like me, you tap into that access daily. I believe this constant stream of media is actually value-neutral – neither good nor bad – but nonetheless has powerful implications for how we think, feel, and act.

Media is identity

The old adage “you are what you eat” applies to media just as much as food. While food shapes our physicality, media determines our mentality. Just take a glance at someone’s YouTube recommendations and watch later list, you’ll learn a lot about what’s going on in their head. The media we consume determines so many aspects of ourselves, but how exactly does that happen? Here’s a causal chain that shows how media shapes us from the inside out.

1. The media we consume determines our knowledge base.

Aside from anything that we’re “forced” to learn (coursework, job knowledge, responsibilities), media is the primary source of what we know. We’re all experts, to some degree, in the niches our media consumption builds for us. Even if you think you’re just passively consuming, your brain takes in information like a sponge.¹ What knowledge are you gaining from the media you consume? Does it enrich your understanding of the world? How often do you learn interesting or useful information?

2. Our knowledge base determines our truth.

As we learn, we sort information into two categories: things that are true and things that are not true. This process works best when done consciously, but it happens whether we engage with it or not. Additionally, consuming media unconsciously can shape our sense of truth.

Take social media, for example: You might consciously recognize its curated facade as “untrue” but even the strongest among us can’t fully resist its influence. Imagine you see a friend’s vacation pics and you feel a pang of jealousy. You tell yourself that their pics were carefully selected to look perfect. Their happiness may not be “true”, but your jealousy definitely is.

Our truth – the beliefs we internalize – are deeply important. It shapes our attitudes, goals, and even moral code. How has media affected your truth? Do you actively question its messaging?

3. Our truth determines our behavior; our behavior determines who we are

What we believe naturally influences how we act – whether it’s how we treat ourselves, others, or the world around us. This behavior, in turn, forms the foundation of who we are. You might argue that, as humans with free will, we have the autonomy to act against the truths that media impresses upon us, and that’s fair. But even when we resist, media still provides the context. We may not act on it, but we act around it. It’s always there, framing how we navigate the world.

How much does this really matter

The short answer is: That’s up to you.

I must reiterate: What you learn, what you believe, and how you live are ultimately neutral – neither good nor bad. The real implication of our access to media is the power it gives us, and conversely, the power it can have over us. By making deliberate choices, we reclaim agency over who we are and how we engage with the world.²

Is this just tabula rasa with extra steps? Yes. But despite the simplicity of these ideas, this was harder for me to write than I expected. Stepping back to question my habits felt like trying to analyze water while swimming in it. But in doing so, I’ve noticed a surprising shift: choosing media intentionally gave me balance, agency, and control. I urge you to give it a try! Start by choosing. You might be surprised how much power you already have.³

~~~

So, what’s your relationship with media? Do you choose what you consume, or does it feel like it chooses you? How has your media diet shaped your sense of self? Are you satisfied with the way it influences your life? Let me know in the comments! Next time, we’ll dive into building a media diet – what it means to be intentional, how to find balance, and why limiting your choices might actually enrich your experience. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then!

1. Notably, type of the media we’re most adjusted to (TikTok brainot vs movies vs dense academic text) also determines our attention span/ability to focus, and therefore the quality of the knowledge retained. For more on this, look into Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. ↩︎
2. I’d like to address the (very true) point that media’s influence decreases the less of it you consume. However, I’m writing this with the assumption that my readership, like the average modern person, consumes a large amount of media. But I’m not here to tell you to consume less. That’s a sermon for another day. ↩︎
3. Having said this, I think it’s important to challenge yourself with media that runs counter to your sense of self. It exercises your ability to think critically and opens new paths for growth. Notably, choosing such media is still a choice ↩︎