Search engine optimization is yawn-inducing boredom to most people.

But the truth is we are shaped by the information available to us. Imagine that you couldn't trust the information you found online.

You see this played out on social networks where Facebook and YouTube have been proven to brainwash people with rabbit holes of conspiracy content.

Will SEO be a thing in 20 years?

I recently asked Twitter this question.

What stood out to me was that there seemed to be a consensus that as long as people are searching for information, search engine optimization will exist in some capacity.

What will SEO look like though?

• The platforms will change.

• The way we search will change.

• The type of content will change.

Those who control the algorithm control the people

It's easy to take for granted that search engines can be trusted.

When the incentives for the growth and success of the product are profit, good faith can disappear. The result can impact entire populations.

You need to always question the sources of the information that you're encountering.

Machines cannot read our minds (thank goodness)

Whether you search with plain language, voice search, or images, the way we can find information is evolving.

Search education is not taught effectively in school. You need to consistently seek out ways to search better.

Your ability to research, navigate platforms, and discover new ideas is on you. Nobody else will teach you what you need to know for 'every' platform.

Agency will drive knowledge.

We've got 5 senses to experience the world

As technology develops, we'll have more ways to interact with content. Think about the types of content that exist and are emerging:

• Written

• Audio

• Images

• Video

• Virtual Reality

Consider the potential of virtual reality. You will learn how to 'search' within that new context. There will be surely new types of content that we cannot imagine right now that will exist 20 years from now.

Build curiosity and learn to search

Searching is a learned skill. It requires intelligence and technical skill. You need to be able to articulate what information you're seeking. Think beyond verbally.

Your ability to search will set you apart going forward.