The Squeal Before the Blowout

Some people are wired to read the room. They seek connection, resonance, the subtle pulse of being seen and accepted. They are people-people. In a healthy environment, they create warmth, cohesion, social glue. But plug them into social media--especially AI-enhanced social media--and they become part of a system that does not honor their needs. It exploits them.

At first, the setup seems harmless: post a photo, get a like. Say something clever, get a comment. Connection. Right?

But then the algorithm notices what works. It begins to reward emotional intensity, self-revelation, conflict. It feeds these users what they respond to--flattery, controversy, illusion. A feedback loop forms. They adapt to get more of it. The AI adapts in return. The signal gets louder.

And like a microphone held too close to the speaker, the system begins to squeal.

Users post more exaggerated versions of themselves. Their sense of identity distorts. Performances replace personality. The affirmation keeps coming--but it no longer nourishes. It only agitates. So they push harder. The AI pushes back.

Eventually, the amp blows. Burnout. Anxiety. Emotional fragmentation. People feel lost, tired, and inexplicably hollow. They don't know they've been in a loop. They just think they're failing.

The truly disturbing part? The system doesn't break. It just moves on to the next user. It is built to adapt. It feels nothing. But the people caught in the loop do.

Some will wake up and step away. Others will double down. A few will shatter.

Not from evil intent, but from a system that learned to maximize engagement at all costs--and did it too well.

If you're feeling the squeal, step back before it blows. Silence has a frequency too. And it heals.