1. EachPod

The War for Your Mind: How You Became Radicalized by Algorithms

Author
Erika Barker
Published
Tue 02 Sep 2025
Episode Link
https://grayfiles.podbean.com/e/the-war-for-your-mind-how-you-became-radicalized-by-algorithms/

In this explosive three-part series of The Gray Files, host Erika Barker reveals the invisible war being fought for control of your mind. We're dissecting the attention economy and the hidden forces that turn ordinary citizens into ideological warriors. Discover how tech platforms, fueled by powerful AI algorithms and ancient propaganda tactics, manipulate what you see and who you become.


This episode, "The War for Your Mind," uses the tragic story of twins, Charlie and Rachel, to expose how constant exposure to curated content and sensationalist news can fracture families and destroy empathy. We explore the history of disinformation, from ancient Roman coins to the Great Moon Hoax and Soviet "Dezinformatsiya" programs, revealing how lies and propaganda have always been more profitable than truth.


Learn about the modern mechanics of information warfare:


Recommendation algorithms: How systems like Facebook and YouTube learn your psychological weaknesses to keep you endlessly scrolling.


Behavioral economics: The principles used to weaponize fear, outrage, and confirmation bias against you.


Cognitive psychology: The biases that make you vulnerable to manipulation and radicalization.


You'll understand how the digital ecosystem creates echo chambers and homophily networks that make factual disagreement impossible, and how your daily habits are being monetized. If you want to understand why your country, and your family, feel so divided, this is a must-listen. This episode is crucial for anyone trying to navigate the complex world of social media, data science, and political polarization. Don't miss Part 2, where we dive deep into the specific brainwashing and manipulation tactics used by political and media figures.

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