Lately, everything I encounter online seems to be algorithm or AI driven. Spotify gives me a daily mix and an AI DJ which just seem to shuffle the same 20 artists on repeat. Pinterest is now filled with AI generated images and every second pin seems to be an ad. Even when I’m trying to discover something new, it feels like I’m being driven towards whatever trend everyone is buying into.
Algorithms push paid content and what gets people hooked. The result is that everyone slowly ends up liking the same trends, products and music. I used to be able to use social media and the internet as a way of discovering new niches, but now the longer I spend online, the narrower my taste becomes. It seems that improving your taste today comes from escaping algorithmic loops rather than trying to consume as much content as possible
Pinterest alternatives to find real inspiration
I still love Pinterest despite the saturation of ads and AI content, and thankfully, you can change settings to make your experience a bit more interesting. To get rid of ai images on pinterest go to settings -> refine your recommendations -> GenAi interests and toggle everything to off. If you still see AI images come up on your feed, click the three dots and press hide as interacting with AI images means more will likely come up on your feed, and this tells the algorithm you arenāt interested.
If you simply don’t want to deal with Pinterest, Cosmos is another great option. It functions the same as Pinterest as you bookmark and discover content, but has less of a heavy push for trends. The explore page makes it easy to find niche aesthetics, and you can search using images or a specific colour theme.
Music without algorithms
Spotifyās recommendations are convenient, and if you are looking for something familiar, there is no need to look any further. However, a fun alternative to break out of the regular cycle is Radio Garden. The platform lets you spin a globe and tune into live radio from anywhere in the world. If you come across something you like, do some research yourself to find out more about the subculture it comes from and its influences. This will help you expand your taste and have a greater appreciation for music overall. Staying with the theme of radio, I love BBC Radio 6 or 3, where I always discover something new when listening to them. Alternatively,Ā here in St Andrews, STAR is a great way to engage with what others on campus are listening to or thinking of.
follow Curators instead of trends
The instagram account fakeplasticbrands has a great series called Tastemaxxing, which is all about refining your personal taste and artistic direction. Instead of following trends, he suggests media you can use to draw inspiration from or to seek out deeper cultural references in order to develop your own perspectives.
Slow Media
Slower media, such as books, documentaries and film, has the opposite effect of the fast, endless consumption you find on social media, giving you time to fully absorb what the creator is trying to communicate. One beautiful nature documentary which gives you time to pause and reflect is Waterwalker (1984), which follows filmmaker and artist Bill Mason on a canoe trip in Canada. It is very slow and almost reflects the pace of being in the wilderness yourself.Ā
I would also highly recommend one of my favourite films āFrom Scotland with Loveā, made entirely from Scottish archive footage of the mundane to soldiers returning from war, and accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack by Scottish musician King Creosote.Ā
It is also very important to go to art galleries, even to just explore whatever exhibition they are showing at the time. Or try to support local ballet or opera, something we are all particularly conscious of at the moment thanks to TimothĆ©e Chalamet. In St Andrews itself, I’d recommend the Music Society Friday lunchtime concerts or attending a performance by one of the many talented music groups here.
Travel
Algorithms also affect where we want to visit when travelling, and as a consequence, the culture we observe. Atlas Obscura is great for escaping the same list of ātop ten must see spotsā. It highlights unusual and overlooked places around the world, turning travel into more of a treasure hunt.
Ultimately, improving your taste isnāt about a complete rejection of technology. Instead, you should try to be intentional about how you discover things and what you devote your time to consuming. Algorithms are optimized by efficiency and engagement while your creativity depends on curiosity and depth. So, the more you step outside of automated recommendations, the more unique and personal your taste becomes.