Reclaiming Taste in the Age of the Algorithm

For Gen Z, taste has been fine-tuned by the algorithm for over a decade. Playlists, watchlists, and recommendation feeds dictate our every choice—until we can’t tell curated preference from genuine affinity. When was the last time you engaged with art without the invisible hand of Big Algo guiding you? Stepping back doesn’t mean abandoning digital entirely—it means creating intentional spaces. The iPod Classic, a relic of pre-streaming autonomy, reminds us that taste is cultivated through friction, patience, and discovery. Because sometimes, the best way forward is a step back.