Jonathan Pay - email marketing consultant
Working in marketing teaches you how people’s brains get nudged. The same psychology that makes email subject lines clickable makes political soundbites stick. When something makes you instantly furious or terrified, that’s your System 1 being hacked. Here’s a framework for spotting when someone’s trying to hijack your gut.
About ten years ago, I sketched out an idea to help people see bias in the news more clearly. I never built it, but someone else did, and they did it well. Ground News offers tools for understanding political slant, factuality, and blindspots. It’s thoughtful, and it’s what I needed.
Since 2014, social media platforms have evolved, but the core issue, our data as currency, remains. Even with GDPR and growing awareness, AI now uses user-generated content for training, complicating the privacy debate. We’re more informed, yet our control feels limited.
In 2014, I reflected on Facebook’s true cost: our data. From location to preferences, everything was monetized. Even quitting didn’t erase the digital trail. Over time, the platform’s terms changed, yet we stayed, driven by social connections.
After nearly 15 years, I’m returning to blogging. Less for the likes, more for reflection. Life’s been a whirlwind: career changes, marriage, parenthood, loss, and resilience. I’m thankful for it all. This blog is a space to document, reflect, and reconnect, without the noise of social media
Social media has evolved from a simple, enjoyable way to connect with friends to a complex ecosystem dominated by algorithms and data-driven content. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram prioritize engagement over meaningful connection. Let’s think on the desire to explore more personal and controlled spaces online, like blogs and newsletters.
Jonathan Pay - email marketing consultant 