It’s been 22 days since I last addressed the ongoing turmoil in our tech landscape, and it feels like a lifetime. With 1,439 days to go, I find myself grappling with how best to serve those around me during this chaotic time. Many are caught in a state of paralysis, unsure of how to act or what to do. I can’t help but wonder: where did all the money go that was supposed to protect our democracy from the threats posed by technology? Those think tanks, funded by corporations and philanthropic efforts, were tasked with finding solutions, yet they seem alarmingly silent now. Their white papers and press releases offer little more than vague acknowledgments of privacy issues, while the real threats escalate unchecked.
My frustration boils down to a fundamental question: what are we doing to combat this brain rot? The online landscape resembles a zombie apocalypse, with misinformation and anger running rampant. My instinct is to scream at those who were entrusted with safeguarding our democracy, but that doesn’t yield results. Instead, I reflect on the absurdity of it all. The same strategies have been employed repeatedly, yet they only fuel further anger and division. The truth is, much of the noise we hear online is engineered by a handful of individuals manipulating thousands of accounts; it’s not reflective of the broader population.
As we approach critical elections, it’s imperative to find ways to reach ordinary people. The recent voting patterns show a troubling trend: discontent is growing, and protest votes are on the rise. This indicates that people are searching for alternatives, yet simply winning elections isn’t enough. The underlying issues remain, and we must confront the reality that the anger and radicalisation we see online are not going away just because a party wins a seat.
We’re living through an accelerationist period, where conflict escalates and people become increasingly disengaged. Many are logging off, overwhelmed by the emotional weight of current events, but this disengagement only exacerbates the problem. We must intervene, yet the current interventions are failing. The cult-like mentality that has taken hold online, particularly surrounding figures like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, showcases how quickly individuals can become entrenched in harmful ideologies.
Cults prey on the vulnerable, and understanding why people fall into these traps is crucial. The allure of belonging can be intoxicating, especially for those feeling lost or disenfranchised. Yet, the answer lies not in further entrenchment but in de-escalation. We need to find ways to communicate effectively, reaching out to those who have been swept up in these movements.
The recent electoral victories, while encouraging, do not signal the end of our troubles. People are still vulnerable to radicalisation, and the polarised thinking that dominates our political landscape is deeply concerning. It’s essential to recognise that winning elections is not a panacea. The problems we face are systemic and require long-term solutions.
I urge us to remain hopeful but grounded in reality. Change is incremental, and while we may feel despondent, it’s vital to remember that things can shift unexpectedly. We must remain vigilant, engage with one another, and seek to understand the complexities of our current situation. The path forward will be challenging, but it’s one we must tread together, armed with compassion and a commitment to resolving conflict in our communities.