Yonisomanasikāra in the Age of Algorithms: A Buddhist Innovation for Developing Information Literacy on Online Platforms

Abstract

This academic article, entitled “Yonisomanasikāra in the Age of Algorithms: A Buddhist Innovation for Developing Information Literacy on Online Platforms,” aims to achieve three objectives: 1) to study the principle of yonisomanasikāra in Buddhism as a process of careful, reasoned, and systematic thinking; 2) to analyze the effects of algorithms and online platforms on users’ perception and information literacy in digital society; and 3) to propose a Buddhist innovative approach by integrating yonisomanasikāra with information literacy in order to promote mindful and critical engagement with information on online platforms. This article employs documentary research through the analysis and synthesis of data derived from the Tipiṭaka, Buddhist academic works, and contemporary academic sources related to media literacy, information literacy, and the digital environment.

            The study reveals that yonisomanasikāra is a Buddhist principle that encourages individuals to think properly, examine causal relations comprehensively, and discern the benefits, harms, causes, and consequences of what they encounter. It thus serves as a significant foundation for the cultivation of wisdom and mindfulness. In contrast, the age of algorithms has transformed the way people receive information. Users’ exposure to information is no longer entirely independent, but is increasingly shaped by processes of selection, ranking, and recommendation embedded in online platforms. As a result, users are more likely to encounter information that reinforces prior beliefs, stimulates emotional reactions, or distorts factual reality. The author argues that information literacy in the digital age should not be limited to verifying sources or checking factual accuracy alone; rather, it should also include self-examination at the levels of thought, emotion, and internal bias.

            This article further proposes that the integration of yonisomanasikāra with the concept of media and information literacy can be developed into a concrete form of Buddhist innovation. Such an approach emphasizes training digital media users to pause before believing, reflect before sharing, and consider consequences before communicating. This framework can help foster digital citizens who are mindful, critical, and socially responsible. Ultimately, it contributes to a more constructive, balanced, and ethically grounded use of technology in accordance with the Buddhist principle of wisdom.