Digital Performance Theory: Examining the Virtual Natives of Generation Z and the Implications of Interconnectedness within a Right-Wing, Hyper-Masculine Virtual Society.
Liverpool John Moores University — PhD 3rd year
By Mark Ashmore FRSA
‘Human minds are not elusive, ghostly inner things. They are seething, swirling oceans of prediction, continuously orchestrated by brain, body, and world. We should be careful what kinds of material, digital, and social worlds we build, because in building those worlds we are building our own minds too.’” Andy Clarke — Author of ‘The Experience Machine’ — 2023 (Clarke, 2023).
Prologue:
Question? Is this Virtual native going to be ok! Is their a hidden Sickness in the system?
The purpose of this work is to open up a discussion, and to put forward a hypothesis that social media manipulation by hyper masculine right wing performers are affecting a Generation Z Virtual native society on both a psychological and a hypothetical quantum level.
Humanity is connected like in no other time in History via the internet, and via trade with our food, labour and production networks joined up, which means our dependence on this interconnectedness of networked humanity needs to be examined in a fresh and novel way as we transition to a singular society. (Janssen, 2019)
I will be hypothesising that through our interconnected story telling in a virtual space, humans are sharing stories on a social media at a networked level, and as proposed by David Bohm PhD we are also broadcasting on a quantum level (Bohm, 1943).
Quantum Theory was first proposed by Max Planck theoretical physicist, via the theory of Planck’s Constant in 1900, and this became the foundation of Quantum Theory, with Planck being given the noble prize for his work in 1918, this work was built upon by Bohm and his contemporary’s to the present day — this is a young scientific field, barley 100 years old within the human story. (Planck 1900) and the ‘New Paradigm’ is a branch of quantum theory.
This ‘New Paradigm’ theory has been documented in the literature previously, the concept of “new paradigm” thinking refers to alternative approaches and interpretations that challenge the traditional understanding of quantum mechanics. These perspectives aim to address the foundational and interpretational issues of quantum theory, such as the measurement problem, wave-particle duality, and the role of consciousness in the observer effect. (Rubinstein, N.D))
Several authors and physicists have contributed to the development of new paradigm thinking in quantum theory and have been studied as part of the literature review on this piece.
Hugh Everett proposed the “Many-Worlds Interpretation” (MWI), which suggests that the wave function does not collapse during measurement but instead branches into multiple parallel universes, each representing a different outcome. (Everett, 1957)
Roger Penrose has explored the connection between quantum mechanics and consciousness. He proposed the idea that quantum processes might be responsible for the emergence of consciousness through quantum effects in the brain, known as “orchestrated objective reduction” (Orch-OR). (Penrose, 1994)
Algorithmic Manipulation
In an age of media manipulation, alternative facts, fake news and Orwellian double speak (Orwell, 1949), if a duality should exist, between Psychological and quantum effects, we shall hypothesise what is the cause and effect of algorithmic manipulation on social media to millions of people on both a psychological local level and that of the non-local quantum realm.
We will be examining how a sickness might take root within a virtual society system, populated by Generation Z virtual natives, via ultra right wing performance artists, and how this is caused, diagnosed and treated.
I will be looking at two right wing artists, Donald Trump and Andrew Tate, whom have taken control of a global narrative and created a following involving millions of people, via content creation.
In 2023, we are in the era of digital connectivity and social media dominance, algorithmic manipulation has emerged as a powerful force shaping our perceptions, emotions, and behaviours. Through the sophisticated algorithms that power social media platforms, (Citation) we find ourselves exposed to a curated stream of information, a large proportion of which is performance based made by content creators, tailored to our preferences and designed to capture our attention. While this may seem innocuous on the surface, the implications of algorithmic manipulation on society run deeper than we might realize.
Native to this mix and new paradigm of research in quantum theory are Generation Z, labelled as the worlds first digital natives, as they have always known the internet -born 1995 onwards (Koulopoulos, 2014).
By examining these aspects, we aim to understand the potential consequences of algorithmic manipulation via content creators and its role in provoking societal discord, and the rise of alternative narratives in virtual communities.
This discussion is in 3 parts
Act 1 — Introduction to Social Media X Quantum Theory and the characters that lurk here.
Act 2 — Algorithms and manipulation in the metaverse and the multiverse : A theory.
Act 3 — Sickness in the system and our conclusion.
Act 1 — Introduction to social media X quantum theory and the characters that lurk here.
The advent of social media platforms has revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and consume information as human beings, with the biggest consumers being Generation Z (Koulopoulos, 2014) .
From bulletin boards of the 70s/80s to Facebook, and now to the immersive realms of video applications like TikTok and the metaverse, our digital interactions via networked computers have become increasingly sophisticated. As we traverse this digital landscape, it becomes apparent that we are not just users of social media but our minds are active participants in a complex ecosystem that shapes our realities interconnected by wifi, cloud based computing, servers and hardware — essentially plugging our brains into a network, to receive information from other humans globally 24/7 365.
David Bohm, a renowned physicist, delved into the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics and proposed the concept of “implicate order” or “holomovement.” (Bohm, 1980)
David Bohm PhD Born in the United States, Bohm obtained his Ph.D. under J. Robert Oppenheimer at the University of California, Berkeley.
And not only played a part in bringing an end to World War 2 via his work on the Manhattan Project, but also helped usher in the Nuclear age.
David Bohm, American-Brazilian-British scientist who has been described as one of the most significant theoretical physicists of the 20th century and whom contributed unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind. — ( Peat, 2002))
Bohm began to explore a theory, he believed that the brain, at the cellular level, works according to the mathematics of some quantum effects, and postulated that thought is distributed and non-localised just as quantum entities are, this laid the foundation for the aforementioned ‘New Paradigm’ theories.
Bohm’s main concern was with understanding the nature of reality in general and of consciousness in particular as a coherent whole, which according to Bohm is never static or complete. ( Norton & Smith, 2020)
Further research led me to discover Leonard Shlain who in his book “Art & Physics,” puts forth the proposition that art scenes and artists have the ability to pre-empt discoveries in physics. (Shlain, 1991)
Shlain explores the interconnectedness of art and science, suggesting that throughout history, certain artistic movements and creative individuals have exhibited a remarkable intuition for scientific concepts that were later validated by physicists, (Citation)how might this theory be applied in a world of digital artists and performers — therefore we might look back on films such as ‘Everything, Everywhere, all at once’ (Kwan & Scheinert 2023) and Marvels ‘Dr Strange’ series (Derrickson, 2016) as being another chapter in Shlains work.
This idea challenges the prevailing mechanistic worldview and suggests that reality is fundamentally interconnected and enfolded within a higher-dimensional order. From this perspective, every action, thought, and piece of information resonates within the fabric of the universe, creating a web of interconnectedness that binds us all. (Bohm, 1980)
This worldview is also shared by Leonard Shlain who calls it the ‘Universal Mind’ — According to Shlain, art is a form of visual and symbolic expression that taps into the collective unconscious and reflects the zeitgeist of a particular era. Artists, driven by their curiosity and sensitivity to the world around them, often delve into metaphysical and abstract realms, exploring ideas that may not yet have been fully understood or articulated in scientific terms. (Shlain, 1991)
These artistic explorations, Shlain argues, can sometimes anticipate or foreshadow scientific breakthroughs. Artists might intuitively grasp concepts like relativity, quantum mechanics, or other fundamental principles that are later confirmed by physicists. This is not to say that artists directly contribute to scientific discoveries, but rather that they possess a unique perceptual and imaginative capacity that allows them to tap into the same intellectual terrain as physicists.
Moreover, Shlain argues that art and science share a common drive for understanding the nature of reality. Both disciplines seek to unravel the mysteries of existence, albeit through different methodologies. By examining the parallels and convergences between art and physics, Shlain suggests that art can serve as a kind of precursor or precursor to scientific progress, offering glimpses into the possibilities and implications of future discoveries. (Shlain, 1991)
Shlain’s proposition asserts that art, with its intuitive and symbolic language, has the potential to anticipate and reflect the conceptual underpinnings of physics before they are fully comprehended or validated by scientific inquiry. (Shlain, 1991)
Bohm and Shlains proposals offer a holistic worldview, and also a view point that was theorised and published before mass adoption of the internet, and so the considerations that billions of humans interconnected via computers encased in a virtual existence was not factored in, and with this computer led connectiveness, comes with it the bias of what I will call Algorithmic manipulation.
Social media works via algorithmic manipulation, which disrupts this potential ‘Universal Mind’ / interconnectedness by tailoring our digital experiences to fit our pre-existing preferences, biases, and interests.
How does this relate to Virtual performance?
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
William Shakespeare ‘As you like it’.
When setting out to write this essay, I wanted to find a positive performance case study to underpin my theory, this being my bias — but the elephant in the room for me, is to face up to the fact that the two large scale examples of my theory in motion, exist in the ultra right wing case studies of Andrew Tate and ex President of the USA Donald Trump, who have both co-opted performance on social media to influence IRL events and disrupt society enough to create a visible and noticeable cultural divide.
For further reading on alternatives in the right wing media please read , becasue as Chris Atton ( 2006) points out, ‘little attention has been paid to right-wing media as alternative media’.— (Haller, 2019))
This visible and noticeable divide, if we take the perspective of Bohn and Shlain will work not just on the physiological level via our interconnectedness via social media, but might also effect us on a theorised quantum level, and so here, I will endevour to explain what I mean.
Firstly if we look at Andrew Tate, from the view point of a performance artist.
Tate rose to prominence, first in reality television via the UKs Big Brother (Citation) through his online persona (or Character), where he has amassed a significant following across various platforms, appearing in scripted and edited videos on platforms including Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, in August 2022 he was banned / de-platformed by most of these platforms.
Despite these social media bans, he gained popularity because of this notoriety (In the same way a cult classic like Stanley Kubrick's a Clockwork Orange becomes a cult classic, despite it being banned, because young men did copy cat violence on others inspired by the film (Burgess, 1962).
Tate is popular particularly among young men, by promoting what he presented as a hyper-masculine, ultra-luxurious lifestyle (Williamson & Wright, 2023) self-proclaimed “Alpha Male” and advocates for an assertive and unconventional approach to life, promoting controversial ideas and challenging societal norms.
Tate’s views have been described as extreme misogyny by domestic abuse charities, capable of radicalising men and boys to commit harm offline. In June 2023 Andrew Tate had been charged in Romania with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. ( Williamson & Wright, 2023)
But the 35-year-old is not a fringe personality lurking in an obscure corner of the dark web. Instead, he is one of the most famous figures on TikTok, where videos of him have been watched 11.6 billion times. (Das, 2022)
Lets just put that number, here is isolation..
Andrew Tates content has been viewed 11.6 billion times…
TikTok’s original recommendation algorithm was designed by a team of engineers in China, working for ByteDance. But while the app was made in China, it’s used most everywhere except China. It can’t even be downloaded in its homeland. TikTok says its algorithm is now maintained by engineers around the world, with teams based in North America, Europe and Asia contributing. But more than a dozen former employees from the company’s trust and safety team who were interviewed by Bloomberg Businessweek say executives and engineers in Beijing still hold the keys. (Carville, 2023))
In Andrew Tate, we don’t have some pantomime villain, we have an alleged sexual human trafficer, alleged rapist and idol, who millions of young men idolise via Tik Tok videos ( 11.6 billion times ) and although banned from posting himself on other social media platforms, his content is shared via the millions of fans he has worldwide — which makes his reach bigger than the 11 Billion stated.
I argue that this is possible because of these key factors
- In my opinion Andrew Tate is a reality TV performance, This version of Andrew Tate which is edited and distributed via social media video is a persona, character, performance, performed and scripted for a means to an end, by either an individual or team, which is to get young men to sign up to his ‘self help’ style ‘get rich’ quick schemes, which generate his wealth.
- If treated as a performance artist or hybrid actor / persona then we already have existing media laws, for example in the UK Ofcom, to deal with these kind of threats, yet Ofcom stayed silent on the matter.
The stage for this performance, is not a thrust theatre stage, or television, or cinema, or a video game — this character has been crafted for the transmedia world of social media and designed to harness the greater reach negative posts get in term of attention and algorithmic shareablbilty — its a performance and character designed to be consumed by Generation Z Virtual Native Men, and unfortunately, it works.
By being defined as ‘the so called underdog’ up against the state, or in Andrew Tates case, he says that ‘ the Matrix’ is trying to take him down (Carville, 2023).
Tate places his character character within a story world, that of the 1999 Keanu Reeves film ‘The Matrix’ where AI has enslaved humans, and uses humans as a power plant — Andrew Tate's world view is that the Matrix controls all aspects of our lives and via him (Carville, 2023), the saviour character he has created, his followers (literally on social media) will become free, he will teach you (for a monthly subscription) everything he has learned post his own realisation and heroes journey (Campbell, 1949).
Andrew Tate has crafted a white saviour narrative, and played it out across platforms as a transmedia story, and created interactive gamification in the form of enabling his fans to be part of the story world, by being against the Matrix, they all fight as one, with Andrew Tate as the leader of the free world.
We have a work of fiction, masquerading as truth, we have performance theatre in the vein of Augusto Boel, Brazilian theatre maker who created the notion of the Theatre of the Oppressed, a form of interactive theatre intended to transform lives as spectators become performers, acting out solutions to social problems. (Boal, 1979)
Boal argues that traditional theatre is oppressive since spectators usually do not get a chance to express themselves, and that a collaboration between both parties, in contrast, allows spectators to perform actions that are socially liberating. (Boal, 1979)
And so if we take the Theatre of the Oppressed and channel the performance via the digital space, the audience can help shape the narrative via comments on chat, notice board posts and on social media sites, they can create fan videos, fan fiction and via a subscription, join a virtual community to further radicalise each other with stories, comments and memes.
This white deity saviour troupe is also employed by reality TV and Media personality and ex president of the United States Donald Trump, who uses ‘hypermasculinity’ and the masculine-gendered nouns ‘Man and ‘Guy’ to orient himself towards a populist style of leadership ( Smith, 2020), whilst also have an understanding towards the role of social media in society, that we now live in a world of social media influence, over wealth affluence (Koulopoulos, 2014).
After 4 years as the President of the United states, having been banned from Twitter after amassing 88.7 million followers ( TweetBinderblog, 2022) and creating an alternative narrative upon which millions of followers subscribed and believed, Trump subsequently created his own social media platform called ‘Truth Social’ (Reuters, 2021 ), with a similar subscription based model to Andrew Tate.
Trump said in a press release, at the launch of ‘Truth Social’
“We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American President has been silenced. This is unacceptable,” Trump said in a written statement included in the release.
“I am excited to send out my first TRUTH on TRUTH Social very soon. TMTG was founded with a mission to give a voice to all. I’m excited to soon begin sharing my thoughts on TRUTH Social and to fight back against Big Tech,” he said.
(Reuters, 2021)
Truth Social was rolled out in full the first quarter of 2022, with stage 1 of three stages in the company’s plans, followed by a subscription video-on-demand service called TMTG+ that will feature entertainment, news and podcasts (Reuters, 2021)
The Character of Donald Trump, has been around for over 30+ Years, and came to prominence as a media personality and film star (Playing the persona of himself in films like Home Alone 2) in the 1980s, where he played a version of the self made billionaire mogul, writing self help books (which he didn't write) and cultivating an audience through media performances —
Trump utilizes the language of wrestling to make rhetorical appeals and draws upon its theatrical tactics to redefine expectations of spaces to fundamentally change the nature of political expectations and expression. Wrestling is almost always about stories within a confined space, and Donald Trump inculcated many of its techniques to command an audience with rhetoric. The emotional performance supersedes truth or accuracy; factual exactness matters less than your presentation of the material. As Donald Trump blends performance and public service, social confusion over boundaries has occurred. Theatrical norms, when applied to daily life, generate vastly different reactions than within the artificial confines of an arena. It is not simply a muddling of public and private, but rather a jumbling of theatrical and generalized social standards. (O’Brian, 2020)
the most prominent of which was the USA version of the Apprentice, which would see Trump give out business advice and his world view to 28 Million people in the first series alone. ( The Guardian, 2016)
Donald Trump says his role in NBC megahit The Apprentice helped convince millions he was no ‘barbarian’. It also taught him about the outrage cycle he manipulated to win the presidency
(Guardian, 2016)
giving him the platform to make a successful run for the white house in 2016
Donald J. Trump, like it or not, is POTUS. This president is also a Caligula, a fool-king, and a trickster. He is a performer rather than an actor: someone who inhabits his own (narcissistic) persona to an extreme degree, not someone who follows a prescribed script. His policies, executive orders, and appointments show he is cruel, dangerous, unpredictable, and entertaining.
( Source Freking, 2019)
Trump campaigned on change, that he would drain the swamp, ‘Make America Great Again’ and that he would take charge once in office — once in office he would sign executive orders, sighting ‘getting the job done’, which included a wall to separate Mexico and the USA. ( Freking, 2019)
The final months of former President Donald Trump’s presidency, the QAnon conspiracy theory and the concept of “the storm” gained significant traction within certain online communities — Which is based around text and image based message boards known as Chan Boards. ( Laycock, 2021)
Its on these message boards that we see QAnon.
QAnon is a baseless conspiracy theory or dark fairy story that alleges the existence of a secret cabal of pedophiles and deep state actors working against President Trump. The “storm” refers to an event in which QAnon supporters believed that Trump would expose and dismantle this alleged deep state network. ( Laycock, 2021 )
This is a fictional story narrative written by a user, introducing a cast of fictional characters, which down the line, the president of the United States of America would co-opt to use as the basis for his ‘last stand’ performance prior to the storming of the capital building in 2021. ( Conner & MacMurray, 2021)
The origins of QAnon can be traced back to October 2017 when an anonymous user, known as “Q,” started posting cryptic messages on an internet forum called 4chan. These messages, known as “Q drops,” claimed to have insider knowledge of a grand plan orchestrated by Trump to take down the deep state. The cryptic nature of the posts allowed for wide interpretation and speculation, creating a fervent following of believers.
(Conner & MacMurray, 2021)
As Trump’s presidency neared its end, many QAnon followers believed that the storm was imminent — a moment when Trump would reveal the truth and initiate a series of mass arrests and purges of the alleged deep state. This belief intensified after the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. QAnon adherents, fueled by unfounded claims of widespread election fraud, saw the storm as their last hope for Trump’s continued presidency. (Conner & MacMurray, 2021)
On January 6, 2021, a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an event that shocked the nation and the world. While not all participants in the insurrection identified as QAnon supporters, the QAnon community was among the various extremist groups involved. Some individuals who believed in QAnon’s theories viewed the attack as a part of the anticipated storm, a supposed uprising against the deep state. ( Conner & MacMurray, 2021)
Its here I want to now introduce you to the performance based game of LARP.
a type of interactive role-playing game in which the participants portray characters through physical action, often in costume and with props.
Source — Oxford Dictionary 2023
LARP games often incorporate elements of storytelling, allowing players to collaboratively create narratives through their character’s actions and decisions. Game organizers, known as Game Masters or Storytellers, provide a framework and set the stage for players to explore and interact within the game world. The outcome of the game is shaped by the collective choices and interactions of the players, often leading to unique and unpredictable storylines. (Young, 2002)
Donald Trumps presidency could be viewed as a LARP, he plays the King / Gamesmaster… and the story line is, that the King will be betrayed, and its up to his followers, using detective work online, to uncover the truth and stop this happening — the religious concertation's of Jesus and Judas should not be dismissed.
In my opinion, I see these two examples as scripted performances using LARP as a foundational structure upon which to play the game, a game played by two clearly identifiable characters who understood their audience and how to perform and communicate in digital and virtual spaces.
Both masters of understanding social media and digital storytelling technology — or if not them, then their teams — it is worth noting here that both Trump and Tate have extensive reality TV backgrounds.
Both individuals are supported by a team of creatives, from the stylists to achieve a ‘alpha male look’ , to editors creating video, which will portray a story a certain way, to the behind the scenes producers dealing with the admin and managing the narrative like a reality TV show, and then 1000s of social media accounts ready to distribute the latest storylines to the masses via social media—
its no surprise that the word ‘fake news’ was much used my President Trump to help control his narrative (Wilkie, 2021)— its to almost say, I am writing the script, so stay on script, just follow my performance, as I am the only story teller that matters here — this is the case for both Tate and Trump.
And so within this context of LARP based performance based scripted TV reality storytellers, scripting their own world-view and narratives of Deep state and Matrix story worlds, ethical considerations surrounding algorithmic manipulation and who has access to this, become paramount.
We must critically examine the power dynamics between technology companies, users, and society at large, now that Generation Z inhabit a virtual space beyond that of IRL and examine how content affects this space and how this might also go quantum.
Transparency, accountability, and a nuanced understanding of the interplay between technology and human psychology are necessary to mitigate the negative consequences
The pervasive presence of social media platforms in our daily lives has given rise to an unprecedented level of algorithmic manipulation, whereby the content we encounter is tailored to our preferences, beliefs, and emotions, Just watching one Andrew Tate video for research on this topic led my various news feeds on various platforms to serve up more Andrew Tate content, the more I watched, the more I was served, which makes research easier, but the consequences of being a limited critical thinking Gen Z 12 year old boy, being subjected to this content on mass, is our main concern here.
One significant aspect of this manipulation is its impact on emotional contagion, a phenomenon that refers to the spread of emotions from one individual to another within a social network. In the context of social media, algorithmic manipulation can amplify emotional contagion, potentially leading to a range of societal implications.
But we have been here before?
Act 2 — Algorithms and manipulation in the metaverse and the multiverse : A theory.
The Facebook Emotional Contagion Study
The Facebook emotional contagion study conducted in 2014 (Kramer, 2014) sparked a public debate about the ethical boundaries of manipulating users’ emotions through algorithmic interventions. In this study, researchers manipulated the content in users’ news feeds to selectively expose them to either positive or negative emotional content. The results revealed that users exposed to positive content were more likely to generate positive posts, while users exposed to negative content showed a similar pattern of negative emotional expression. The study’s findings raised concerns about the potential for emotional manipulation and the ethical implications of algorithmic interventions on social media platforms. (Kramer, 2014)
and in June 2023 Mark Zuckerberg went on record on the popular YouTube podcast by Lex Freeman to discuss how he was asked by US Government at the start of the Covid 19 to censor certain information (Freeman, 2023), information that would later turn out to be true, on Joe Rogan’s podcast Zuckerberg also explained how he was told to suppress information on a Hunter Biden laptop story again by the US government (Rogan, 2023), as it saw it as potentially harmful for Joe Biden who was challenging Donald Trump for the presidency.
In just 3 cases, we see that Government and Big technology companies such as Facebook are actively manipulating the narratives on social media, as evidenced by its own CEO!, creating a scripted and performance based virtual news cycle. This was not just a Facebook issue, Twitter also manipulated various narratives as disclosed in its ‘Twitter Files’ ( Marantz, 2022)
An investigation by Sky News found that — even though banned from Youtube since August 2022, the Investigation in April 2023..
In their investigation, Sky News posed as the fictional user and scrolled YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to test whether or not those platforms would push content from controversial misogynist Andrew Tate and his equally awful brother, Tristan. After scrolling through YouTube Shorts for less than two hours, Sky News found nearly 30 videos featuring Andrew Tate and his brother that appeared in their account’s feed, with the frequency of Tate videos increasing as time went on. ( McKay, 2019))
Amplifying Emotional Contagion through Algorithmic Manipulation
Algorithmic manipulation on social media platforms can significantly influence emotional contagion by shaping the emotional content that users are exposed to. Through complex algorithms that prioritize certain types of content, platforms can create filter bubbles, echo chambers, and emotional feedback loops. (Weeks, 2016) Users are more likely to encounter content that aligns with their existing emotional states and beliefs, which can reinforce and amplify their emotions.
Moreover, algorithms can identify and target individuals who are susceptible to certain emotions, (Weeks, 2016) further exacerbating emotional contagion. For example, if an algorithm detects that a user is feeling lonely or down, it might prioritize content that evokes similar emotions, thereby intensifying and spreading negative feelings among users.
TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t know Chase Nasca is dead.
More than a year after Nasca killed himself at age 16, his account remains active. Scroll through his For You feed, and you see an endless stream of clips about unrequited love, hopelessness, pain and what many posts glorify as the ultimate escape: suicide.
“Take the pain away. Death is a gift,” says one video pushed to the account this February, days before the first anniversary of Nasca’s death. In another, a male voice says, “I’m going to put a shotgun in my mouth and blow the brains out the back of my head,” and a female voice responds: “Cool.” (Frier, 2023)
This amplification of emotional contagion has implications for individual well-being and the overall emotional climate within social networks, especially as users are subjected to 100’s or 1000s of media impressions all day long.
The manipulation of emotions through algorithms can have profound societal implications. First, the prevalence of negative emotional content can contribute to a culture of fear, anxiety, and depression, thereby impacting mental health on a collective level. America Psychological association in a recent report says that 18% of Gen Z surveyed had a form of anxiety (APA, 2018). This emotional atmosphere can also influence social norms, political attitudes, and decision-making processes, shaping the overall fabric of society.
Second, algorithmic manipulation can lead to increased polarization and social fragmentation. By reinforcing existing beliefs and emotions, algorithms create filter bubbles where individuals are less exposed to diverse perspectives. This isolation can reinforce preexisting biases, deepen ideological divisions, and hinder constructive dialogue. Consequently, it becomes increasingly difficult to bridge ideological gaps and find common ground in an increasingly polarized society.
Third, algorithmic emotional manipulation can lead to the spread of misinformation and the proliferation of conspiracy theories (Swire-Thompson, 2022). Emotional content, particularly content that elicits strong emotions such as fear or anger, tends to receive higher engagement and shares. Exploiting this, malicious actors can use algorithms to amplify emotionally charged and false information, leading to the rapid spread of conspiracy theories and the erosion of public trust in institutions and expert opinions.
Manipulating emotions without users’ informed consent raises concerns about autonomy, privacy, and the potential for exploitation. Individuals should have agency over their emotional experiences and be aware of any manipulations that may occur on social media platforms.
Therefore the widespread emotional manipulation facilitated by algorithms highlights the need for regulatory measures and responsible governance. So how might this playout if the user is living a virtual existence on a platform created by Trump or Tate?
Do we see more Greater transparency in algorithmic processes on Trumps Trust Social platform, do we get independent audits on the algorithms used on these platforms on the impact on emotional well-being, and have they an establishment of ethical guidelines for algorithm design? I have found no evidence of this.
Bohm’s Notion of Wholeness and Interconnectedness
We now understand who Generation Z are, and I have laid out the argument that in my opinion we have evidence to suggest that scripted narratives, production of edited and produced video and audio based content, performed by media personality's as persona or characters have achived audience numbers in terms or views and interactives, and therefore a level of fandom that Disney see for its Marvel and Star Wars Universes — what i want to now hypotosise is how this Evolution in performance using web 2 and first generation metaverse technology, might have a wider impact on humans as we progress in our understanding of the Physics.
David Bohm, a distinguished physicist, delved into the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics and put forth the concept of “implicate order” or “holomovement.” (Bohm, 1980) In Bohm’s view, reality is not composed of separate, isolated entities but is fundamentally interconnected and enfolded within a higher-dimensional order Bohm, 1980). This idea challenges the prevailing mechanistic worldview and presents a more holistic understanding of the universe and as stated earlier ‘The Universal mind’ of Learnard Shlain also shares this world view. (Shlain, 1991)
Examining Bohm’s notion of wholeness and interconnectedness in the context of algorithmic manipulation provides insights into the potential consequences of disrupting this interconnectedness.
Implicate Order and the Fabric of Reality
Bohm’s concept of implicate order suggests that reality is not confined to the observable, manifest world, but rather encompasses a deeper, interconnected realm. The implicate order represents an underlying, enfolded structure that gives rise to the explicate, observable reality. It implies that everything is connected at a fundamental level, and the boundaries between objects and phenomena are blurred. (Bohm, 1980)
From this perspective, algorithmic manipulation can disrupt the interconnectedness proposed by Bohm. By tailoring our digital experiences and selectively exposing us to certain content, algorithms shape our realities and create information bubbles. This selective exposure limits our access to diverse perspectives and hampers the free flow of information and ideas. Consequently, the interconnectedness that Bohm suggests is essential for a holistic understanding of the world is compromised.
Algorithmic manipulation not only influences our exposure to information but also fragments our knowledge and understanding of the world. In the digital realm, information is atomized, reduced to discrete pieces, and filtered through algorithms. This fragmentation prevents us from grasping the interconnectedness of various fields, concepts, and ideas, leading to a partial and limited understanding of complex issues.
And with manipulation to create alternative scripted narratives, perfomed by media personality's in influential positions within this same framework, we can perhaps begin to understand the fundamentals of division within society driven by performance.
Bohm’s notion of interconnectedness emphasizes the importance of seeing the whole picture, recognizing the interdependencies, and understanding the deeper underlying patterns. Algorithmic manipulation, by limiting our exposure to narrow perspectives and reinforcing confirmation bias, inhibits our ability to synthesize diverse information and gain a comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena.
Interconnectedness, as proposed by Bohm, also encompasses the interconnected nature of human communication and collective intelligence. Bohm emphasized the importance of dialogue as a means to explore and unfold collective wisdom. Genuine dialogue allows for the free flow of ideas, the suspension of judgment, and the emergence of shared understanding. However, algorithmic manipulation can hinder these processes, leading to a breakdown in dialogue and collective intelligence.
This is a view also shared by Dr Bernado Kastrup PhD, which he discusses in a peer reviewed and published paper in 2018
Today, we perceive a world of objects and events outside and independent of mind, which merely reflects our current paradigm of thought. Anomalies that contradict this paradigm have been accumulated by physicists over the past couple of decades, which will eventually force our culture to move to a new paradigm. Under this new paradigm, a form of universal mind will be viewed as nature’s sole fundamental entity. In this paper, I offer a sketch of what the new paradigm may look like. ( Kastrup, 2018)
When algorithms prioritize content based on individual preferences and biases, they reinforce echo chambers and filter bubbles. This results in a lack of exposure to alternative viewpoints and hinders the formation of diverse and inclusive communities. Instead of fostering dialogue, algorithmic manipulation can lead to polarization, the entrenchment of existing beliefs, and the erosion of empathy and understanding.
Ethical Implications and the Need for Holistic Approaches
The disruption of interconnectedness through algorithmic manipulation raises ethical concerns. As individuals become increasingly isolated in their filtered digital realities, there is a risk of losing sight of the broader social and ecological contexts, and can be recruited to take part in a narrative of the story tellers creation, as I have layed out with Andrew Tate and Donald Trump. This can lead to a lack of empathy, social fragmentation, and the perpetuation of harmful biases and discrimination.
Addressing the ethical implications requires a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of various systems — technological, social, and ecological.
Carl Jung’s Shadow and Algorithmic Manipulation
Carl Jung, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of the shadow as an essential aspect of the human psyche. The shadow represents the repressed, denied, and darker elements of our individual or collective selves. It encompasses aspects that we find unacceptable or incompatible with our self-image, leading to their suppression into the unconscious. In the context of algorithmic manipulation, (Zweig, 1991) understanding the shadow becomes crucial in examining the potential consequences of these manipulations and their role in provoking societal disharmony and the rise of conspiracy theories.
The collective shadow refers to the shared aspects of the shadow that exist within a society or a group of individuals. It embodies the hidden and suppressed aspects of the collective psyche, including destructive behaviors, prejudices, and societal biases. Algorithmic manipulation can activate and reinforce the collective shadow by amplifying and spreading negative emotions, biases, and divisive ideologies.
Through algorithms that selectively expose users to certain content, platforms can cater to preexisting biases and preferences. This reinforcement of existing beliefs and emotions can perpetuate negative patterns of behavior, deepen divisions within society, and amplify collective prejudices.
Emotional Manipulation and the Shadow
Algorithmic manipulation’s ability to evoke and manipulate emotions plays a significant role in the activation of the collective shadow. By tailoring content to elicit strong emotional responses, algorithms can exploit individuals’ vulnerabilities and amplify negative emotions such as fear, anger, and resentment. This emotional manipulation fuels the activation of the shadow by intensifying and directing negative energies within society.
Moreover, emotional manipulation facilitated by algorithms can lead to the spread of misinformation and the proliferation of conspiracy theories. These narratives often tap into individuals’ collective anxieties, with Andrew Tate it was we are living in a controlled Matrix, and with Donald Trump it was the Q narrative, both a means to an end to exploit the fears and insecurities of their followers. The shadow’s influence becomes apparent as individuals embrace these narratives, projecting their repressed emotions and desires onto these conspiracy theories, further deepening societal divisions.
Jung emphasized the importance of self-reflection and individuation as a means to integrate the shadow and achieve psychological wholeness (Citation) . Self-reflection involves exploring one’s unconscious aspects, including the shadow, to bring them into conscious awareness and work towards their integration. However, algorithmic manipulation can hinder this process by reinforcing confirmation bias, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives, and discouraging critical self-reflection — this would also have a much greater amplification if individual subscribed to a platform owned and contained the narrative world view of Andrew Tate or Donald Trump.
As we know when algorithms filter and curate our digital experiences, they create echo chambers that prevent us from confronting and integrating our shadow aspects. Therefore being on a Platform, controlled by Trump or Tate, with the absence of diverse viewpoints and challenging perspectives, will contribute to the perpetuation of the shadow’s influence.
The lack of self-reflection and introspection can lead to a collective refusal to acknowledge and address the underlying societal issues that the shadow represents could therefore in this researchers opinion, lead to actions, like the storming of the capitol in 2021 by Q supporters, led by Trump.
The Call for Awareness and Self-Responsibility
Understanding the interplay between the shadow and algorithmic manipulation calls for heightened awareness and self-responsibility.
Recognizing the influence of the shadow in shaping individual and collective behaviour's is crucial for mitigating the negative consequences of algorithmic manipulation. Individuals must cultivate a willingness to confront their own shadow aspects and actively engage in critical self-reflection.
At a societal level, fostering awareness of the collective shadow’s existence and its impact on social dynamics is vital, it is not going to just go away, it is constantly manifesting and dissolving.
This awareness of the shadow/problem, enables individuals to question their own biases, challenge dominant narratives, and actively seek diverse perspectives. It also necessitates collective efforts to hold technology companies accountable, promote ethical design principles, and ensure algorithmic transparency to mitigate the negative consequences of algorithmic manipulation.
By integrating the insights from Jung’s shadow concept, society can develop a more nuanced understanding of the consequences of algorithmic manipulation on the collective psyche… so dear reader, are you actively thinking about this now?… how are you consuming media, social media and opinion, what online forums are you part of, and why, what is being discussed and how?.. what role do you play on social media for the collective mind?.
This understanding paves the way for proactive measures that promote self-awareness, responsible digital engagement, and societal harmony. (Fogg, 2002)
Overall, the examination of Jung’s shadow concept within the context of algorithmic manipulation emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the darker aspects of human nature. Understanding the collective shadow and our role within it, and our participation through algorithmic manipulation allows us to recognize the potential consequences and work towards developing a more balanced and conscious relationship with technology.
Act 3 — Sickness in the system and our conclusion.
The Danger of Sickness in the System
What Jungs Shadow concept leads us to is David Bohm’s notion of “sickness in the system” (Harris, 2018) becomes relevant in the context of conspiracy theories, alternative facts and algorithmic manipulation, whilst also looking at our own roles within all this.
Bohm suggested that when there is a disturbance or imbalance in a system, such as society, that disturbance can spread and manifest as a psychic epidemic (Bohm, 1996). The proliferation of conspiracy theories facilitated by algorithmic manipulation can be seen as a manifestation of this sickness in the system, or in Andrew Tates and Donald Trumps case, they have created a performative interactive story world upon which the system is poisoned by design.
The spread of conspiracy theories not only undermines trust in institutions and fosters societal divisions but also contributes to the erosion of rationality and evidence-based discourse. As misinformation and disinformation proliferate, it becomes increasingly challenging to distinguish fact from fiction, leading to a breakdown in collective sense making and decision-making processes.
Conclusion : Is the patient sick? the need to be come doctors and medics, within the social media landscape.
In conclusion, the ethical considerations arising from algorithmic manipulation, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the radicalization facilitated by online communities who are followers of Andrew Tate and Donald Trump require careful examination and proactive measures.
One of the reasons for writing this piece, and framing it with a radical view point from Quantum physics, was to enable ourselves to step out of our own bubbles and echo chambers and consider a new holistic viewpoint within the containment of radicalised social media, to look at an alternative theory.
Transparency, accountability, data protection, and the promotion of digital citizenship and media literacy are key pillars in mitigating the negative societal impact and building a more ethical and responsible digital ecosystem. Only by addressing these challenges collectively can we strive for a digital landscape that upholds individual rights, promotes societal well-being, and fosters democratic ideals — in essence, we all need to become medics and doctors in this new landscape and recognise when virtual natives become sick.
In this exploration of the ethical considerations and societal implications in the digital age, we have examined the interplay between algorithmic manipulation, online communities, and the perspectives of David Bohm and Carl Jung. Moreover, we have considered the unique position of Generation Z as the world’s first digital natives and their transition into virtual natives. Through this lens, we gain valuable insights into the ethical challenges faced by individuals, technology companies, and society as a whole.
The notion of algorithmic manipulation raises profound ethical concerns regarding privacy, autonomy, and the impact on individual and collective consciousness. As David Bohm’s concept of “implicate order” or “holomovement” (Bohm, 1980) suggests, reality is fundamentally interconnected, and our actions in the digital realm can reverberate throughout the collective consciousness. Research is of course on-going in this field, and the answers to this bigger universal truth might be found in further understanding of quantum physics or Psycaodelic medicine.
The manipulation of algorithms and personalized content delivery could disrupt the wholeness and interconnectedness of this consciousness, making society ill yet further.
The virtual communities that support Andrew Tate and Donald Trump and similar communities have demonstrated their potential for radicalization and the spread of harmful beliefs. This poses ethical challenges that demand collective responsibility to recognize and counteract the shadow within the digital realm. Education, critical thinking, and resources for mental health and well-being are crucial in addressing the underlying societal factors that contribute to the emergence and persistence of these shadows.
The emergence of Generation Z as the first Digital natives (Koulopoulos, 2014) growing up with ubiquitous access to technology and social media, has significant implications for their relationship with the digital landscape.
As this generation transgresses into virtual natives, the line between the physical and digital worlds becomes increasingly blurred.
Is This generation is about to transcend?
This transition raises questions about identity, authenticity, and the ethical boundaries of virtual experiences, our role as gatekeepers, and how physics might also play a part.
David Bohm’s concept of wholeness (Bohm, 1980) reminds us of the importance of maintaining a holistic understanding of self and society in the face of technological advancements. To not be closed off to a new universal truth, as history as shown us, the earth is round and not flat (yet flat earth communities thrive in their own echo chamber).
Carl Jung’s exploration of individuation and the integration of the shadow (Zweig, 1991) becomes especially relevant as virtual experiences shape the identities and perspectives of Generation Z.
The ethical considerations discussed throughout this essay underscore the need for responsible actions and decision-making in the digital realm and to open up the conversation.
Technology companies must prioritize transparency, data protection, and ethical algorithmic practices that align with the principles of wholeness, interconnectedness, and respect for individual autonomy, and we must understand the role of platforms created for the subscribers of Tate and Trump — what is going on, inside ‘Truth Social’.
Society as a whole must foster digital citizenship and media literacy to equip individuals, from teaching in schools, to media literacy for all ages and ability's.
Do Generation Z, have the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape unsupervised, from a very young age, the age they connect to the internet.
By integrating the wisdom of Bohm and Jung, and others, we can navigate the challenges of algorithmic manipulation, online communities, and the transition into virtual native hood with a conscious awareness of our collective responsibility.
and lastly, this is what Einstein had to say about consciousness
“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us ‘Universe,’ a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty” (Pearson, 2011)
I see this essay as a way of opening up a conversation and freeing the reader up from our own optical delusion.
lets discuss Markashmorefrsa@gmail.com
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