Algorithm’s Shopping List

The day I had my second vaccine, I remember muttering though with the intention to speak, “I ought to get good sleep after this.” as I made all sorts of mental imagery of my moderately lit room, the windows of which are darkened with heavy blankets due to the delayed shopping for darkening curtains. As my neurons shot through this information at blazing speed per second, the algorithm of my social media did its predatory wizardry and within the next minute “Room Darkening Silk Blackout Curtain with 3 Layers Weaving Technology Solid Grommet Pattern” popped up in my feed. This wasn’t happening for the first time. There used to be a temporary fear triggered by algorithm going far enough to curate a shopping list based on what one spoke of or about. That problem has now evolved into product marketing grabbing your eye about things associated with what one muttered, even. If this “algorithm” were to become more neural, more prompted by association and remarkably sensitive, would it:

1. Suggest cat adoption centers after eavesdropping on something about “being a radical artist”?
2. Compile a list of House Atreides Hawk pins after hearing “but Timmy is so cute ya”?
3. Recommend dating apps on overhearing an assertive, “but those ARE the flags, bestie”?
4. Curate Ravinder Singh books dipped in Penguin labels after an urban discourse on “arey why do you need reservation? just be better na”?
5. Seek out cottagecore thrift stores upon hearing “Evermore saved my life.”?
6. Pull only the best poetry writing masterclass recommendations after a cracking “my parents, you know”?
7. List home baked cinnamon bread pudding recipes on prolonged sighs.