The clutches of neoliberalism are always vile, yet they can be overt or subtle. We need to understand both kinds if we want to wage a moral battle with at least some hope of effectiveness. We are all aware that the homo economicus model is wrong, meaning not that we don’t need an economy, the exchange of goods, or preferences and choices, but that its claims to define the whole human are ridiculous at best.
Many people have become aware that the phrase “choose what you like” is a trap in many ways, including the fact that lack of affluence makes choices quite limited for a large sector of the population, and that the choices offered are often almost all the same.
Many of us realize that we have become goods in the hands of social media — or rather in the hands of the owners of those platforms — yet it is hard to acquire a clear consciousness of what that entails and how we can effectively oppose it. Our “client profiles” are bought and sold, and the “content” we create benefits us only in part, as they make the whole machinery go.
If I were a Luddite, I would argue now for stopping to use all platforms. If I were also consistent, I would stop writing these Daily Meditations, which are distributed through the same channels as all other “content.” I do not despise those who decide to live in such a way — such as philosopher Byung-Chul Han reportedly does — but I want to try to live in the world of social media with greater awareness.
Yesterday, I underlined through one of the same philosopher’s intuitions that “lifelong formation” is one of the subtle disguises of the neoliberal ideology of continuous production. The same author provides many other hints and suggestions. He notices, for example, that “authenticity” has become a banner of late, but all it means is that each of us is invited to become a priest of one’s own narcissism, creating digital images and words with market value from one’s own life.
On social media, people talk about their own life experiences, the most trivial of them, or they comment on anything without any knowledge of the subject matter. They claim importance for their posts because they are “authentic,” but in the end such pornography of the soul does not help their understanding of themselves, does not build community, and does not really communicate anything. Isolation grows, together with bitter online quarrels. Yet we pay for these things, or these things advertise for other things that are on sale, which is all that neoliberalism cares for.
The excess of images, their continual flooding of our brains, is also a neoliberal strategy. Their amount, variety, and pace obliterate the ethical value of some of them, such as those depicting the tragedy of war and genocide, as they are again transformed into “content” with a price tag on it. Such incessant flow of images is also an example of the neoliberal lack of closure, the imperative of continuous production without any Sabbath in sight — even if we might be talking about the production of ethical indignation, which in turn may induce one to buy something.
All of this looks extremely subtle to me, as we all know that learning at any stage of life, authenticity in all circumstances, and ethical indignation at all injustices are great values. They are indeed very basic to humankind.
But we must oppose their neoliberal version, which looks similar at first to the real thing. Its true aim, however, is monetizing them just like everything else.
We have some great assets in this game. We all belong to some communities. If nothing else, this community of readers and commenters of the DMs. In it, narcissistic temptations are kept at bay, and true humility is fostered. Most importantly, we make continual reference to the past, to the traditions that made us who we are, and we confront our thinking with that of the ancestors. This is what makes true authenticity possible.
Ironically, our online community is made possible in real time by digital connections, which are a huge part of the problem. But life is complicated, isn’t it? I don’t think we should ever abandon the 1990s adage Think Globally, Act Locally. We must show up with our bodies whenever possible, but I think we should also rejoice when we are able to connect authentically at great distances.
Banner Image: “Social media? More like anti-social addiction! Evolution of the ‘craned neck humanoid,’ anti-socializing on social media.” Photo by FunnyFence on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
What are the strategies of neoliberal monetization that you are discovering of late?
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Matthew Fox and Adam Bucko, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Charles Burack, ed., Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
A Way to God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey
Wrestling with the Prophets: Essays on Creation Spirituality and Everyday Life
5 thoughts on “Know Your Enemy”
Thank you for this very insightful DM!
I agree with Kristin Gallucci’s comment in her TEDx talk that “social media is making us unsocial” and her stressing the fundamentally manipulative make-up of on-line architectures when “some of the most brilliant minds in the world have dedicated their lives to making social media more addictive,” but I was less enthused when I read in her webpage that she still introduces herself as “a well-seasoned brand and marketing strategist passionate about helping leaders and influencers realize their vision through brand and marketing intelligence.”
Driving under the influence (DUI) is against the law, but living under influence (LUI) is hip.
In a deeply troubling and blunt confession, Chamath Palihapitiya, former Facebook VP for User Growth and Sean Parker, ex-Facebook President warn us: “…we have created tools that are ripping apart the social fabric of how society works. That is truly where we are. If you feed the beast, that beast will destroy you.” “…The…creators [of FB]… understood this consciously, and we did it anyway.” [https://youtu.be/J54k7WrbfMg]
Losing the freedom not to use such or such on-line media is a sure sign that we have crossed the line between digital sobriety and addiction.
Thank you, Gianluigi, for presenting these ideas to us. I need to contemplate on these thoughts for a long time and see what comes up. Social media allows us to share our travels, successes, our insights, holidays, and everything else with people who may or may not care; yet, when I need someone to care for my cat for just one afternoon, I don’t know who to call who lives close enough to help and who knows how to get into my house when I am unexpectedly away. Like today. I also don’t know how to express disappointments, along with successes. So let me experiment. This spring and summer, I have had theatres I’m close to turn down production of four of my plays. I pulled another one because I couldn’t find the right director. It’s making me question what I’m meant to do to share my skills to make the world a better place. I thought playwriting was my gift. Now I come naked before God and wonder how to spend the last few years of my life. How does social media help me in that? Probably not at all. So, is it time to choose to leave social media all behind? Big questions. Thank you for adding these questions to my overall contemplation on what to do next. And what not to do. xoxoxx
As members of this Daily Meditations community, we are already experiencing how a shared spiritual practice can shape the way we see ourselves, one another, and the world.
Today’s meditation reminded me that if so many forces are continually forming our minds and hearts, then our response must also be intentional. We need spaces where wisdom can take root, where imagination is nourished, and where we can continue growing in community.
I am grateful for the many ways this work is already unfolding, beginning with the gift of this Daily Meditations community. It leaves me wondering how this shared space might continue to evolve, offering ever more opportunities for learning, practice, conversation, and creative expression to grow from the roots we are already tending together. Perhaps this is part of the invitation of our time, not only to recognize the forces that seek to shape us, but to intentionally create spaces where we can shape one another toward deeper wisdom, compassion, and connection.
Social media is an enigma in many ways. On one hand, even if one dislikes it, the places we use to function, like banks, medical portals, force one to ‘have an online account’ or create one!
For myself, it’s a love, hate relationship! Now close to 70 years of age, growing up…we used physical maps, stopped to call in physical phone booths for $.10…
So what does one do? It seems to come down to one thing, BALANCE! Balance in all facets of life…from religion to social media to eating habits to sleeping, etc… Anything in excess can be BAD!