“Forbidding Wrong” on TikTok
When governments monopolise the means of communication, they can promulgate a singular narrative and punish critics. Authoritarian control of technology thus reinforces cultural homogeneity.
Smart phones, internet connectivity and social media were then heralded as disruptive. Ruling elites and mass media corporations no longer control the airwaves (at least not in democracies). Free from government interference, young people can speak for themselves. Some imagined that modern connectivity would enable marginalised voices to criticise traditions and spearhead liberalism.
Frankly, that seems both arrogant and naive. Liberalism is not inherently persuasive. Conservatives are well aware of this ideology, but view it with revulsion.
Social media actually enables connectivity and moral policing. Users self-select into online communities, creating filter bubbles that collectively reinforce groupthink by vilifying deviants. Technological advances actually enable shaming at scale.
Yesterday, a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim friend asked if I was aware of the current discourse - about ‘belts’? Indeed, I am. So let’s dive in..
