Simplicity as Antidote to Algorithm Anxiety

Laozi repeatedly returns to the concept of pu—the uncarved block—representing wholeness found in simplicity before complexity divides and confuses. Modern digital platforms manufacture anxiety through algorithmic complexity: infinite feeds, personalization, optimization, and recommendations create a sense that you're always missing the perfectly curated experience meant for you. This complexity itself generates FOMO. The Taoist response is radical simplification: unfollow aggressively, disable notifications, reduce platforms to essentials. This isn't asceticism but return to wholeness. By stripping away algorithmic manipulation and endless options, you recover clarity about what genuinely serves you. The anxiety of choice paralysis and algorithmic optimization dissolves when you return to simple, direct connection without the mediating complexity of feeds designed to maximize engagement and exploit your attention.