Algorithmic Disruption | The Dual Arc Project

Algorithmic Disruption

How platforms script the inner voice when parents and educators don’t.

Algorithms aren’t neutral. They shape how children narrate themselves—rewarding performance over reflection, speed over depth, and visibility over coherence.

Without scaffolding, a child’s sense of self gets handed over to likes, metrics, and engagement loops. These systems don’t wait for identity to be ready—they train it before it forms. And what they train is reaction, not reflection.

The result? Inner dialogue becomes audience optimization. Narrative collapses into algorithmic fit.

Key Ideas

  • Platforms reward behavior long before identity is stable.
  • Without internal coherence, children borrow external scripts.
  • Distraction isn’t accidental—it’s a product feature that fragments cognition.
  • To resist scripting, children need reflection—structured, repeated, and emotionally anchored.

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May 23, 2025 – Argues that if used wisely, AI agents can support—not replace—narrative scaffolding and internal development.
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May 1, 2025 – Explores how gameplay, repetition, and failure can restore focus and coherence in distracted minds.
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April 19, 2025 – Explores how storytelling and memory can resist algorithmic time and restore narrative continuity.
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April 24, 2025 – Makes the case that boredom is essential for deep thinking, play, and original thought in children.
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