Pro tip: I stopped letting my phone pick my music for a week

I got tired of the same six bands on my daily mix and turned off all the smart suggestions. For seven days, I just picked albums I already owned or looked up old playlists. The weird part was I felt less rushed picking songs, like the app wasn't judging my speed. It made me see how the push for 'discovery' can actually make listening feel like a chore. Has anyone else tried a break from their streaming service's picks?

3 comments

3 Comments

betty_wells13d agoTop Commenter

Yeah, I read an article about how these algorithms are basically designed to keep you scrolling, not to actually help you find music you love. It said they push songs with a similar tempo or mood to keep you in a passive listening loop. Your experiment makes total sense, that pressure to constantly find something new is exhausting. What was the first album you put on when you turned the suggestions off?

piperbailey13d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly I saw that same article and it felt a bit over the top. Like, my Spotify Discover Weekly has actually given me some great bands. Maybe the algorithm just wants you to listen longer, but is that really so bad? Sometimes I want that passive mood loop, not a deep musical quest. Turning it all off seems like a strong reaction to what is basically a fancy shuffle button.

the_tyler13d ago

Went straight for an old Radiohead album.