They Sow, They Reap: How Humans are Becoming Algorithm Chow

Today's technology companies are consuming people. Many of us are tethered to the network and its capabilities through our devices. As a result, it has appeared to others, who from a distance observe us using these devices, that we have become more fragmented and isolated. This is not necessarily true. Humans are social creatures, and, as such, we are deeply invested in those with whom we have built social relationships. We use our mobile devices to maintain those relationships and to coordinate and cooperate with each other over distances. However, we are not alone in these relationships. There are many others who are involved in each individual network transaction, nearly always without our knowledge, and they often participate without our permission.