“The technosphere”, a term introduced by John H Milsum, refers to a reality made of systems created for human advancement. What constitutes this realm includes ‘machines, computers, buildings and all mobility infrastructure’ according to the Vienna Anthropocene Network. But this isn’t news to us.
And I can’t help but wonder whether philosophers of old somewhat predicted the rise of internet communication through Greek mythologies such as Pandora’s Box – the myth of a box that, when opened by the first woman out of curiosity, would unleash all the complications and horrors plaguing mankind. The myth goes that Zeus deliberately gifted Pandora this box, and when she tried to close it and stop the shortcomings, hope was left trapped inside.
Each morning we open our eyes, then our screens, and are embraced with the endless stream of information. War, politics, culture, entertainment and so many other genres that define society have become weaved into our daily thoughts, subconsciously navigating our perceptions as the battle for our time, vote and investment prevails. Social media alone has been reported to cause mental health issues such as loneliness, anxiety, FOMO (fear of missing out) and depression among billions of users across the world.
And like the parallels found in Greek myths, the idea of the Roman Empire emerges through the state of economies around the world today. The wheels of war increase tax, migration increases tensions, and the lack of leadership begs the questions of profit over people. It all sounds like a nightmarish midsummer night's fever dream as we toss and turn, hoping to refresh the tabs of tomorrow.
But unlike Pandora’s Box, there’s no escaping the consciousness of the modern audience as they become aware of the power of platforms such as X in being more than ways to share personal opinions. Audiences have become social advocates, active learners and educators, while social platforms have become a tool for connectivity across the globe and used for global actions against human rights violations and changes in policy.
Although positive outcomes have been generated through social apps, the internet and media still remain divided as people debate whose perspective is right or wrong – especially when X was acquired by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The turbulent journey to his acquisition of the app raised many debates among X users, entrepreneurs, and business-savvy commentators alike. Conversations around the logo change brought up debates around audience reception and whether business owners should take into consideration the sentimental value of certain aspects of the brand when making decisions.
Elon Musk has proven controversial as the boss of X, formerly known as Twitter
(Credit: Steve Jurvetson)
Although it can be debated that the logo change was the issue, the real issue seemed to be audience perceptions of Elon Musk himself. Some may say Musk is one of the most controversial figures of this time, but it's hard to discredit the cultural impact he has had on authentically owning your personal views and advocating for free speech and ‘transparency’ for X.
Comparatively, over the past few years we’ve seen journalists like Julian Assange lead the way in distributing vital information for the public in the name of journalistic integrity. WikiLeaks and its advocacy for public access to ‘the truth’ has become a key moment in 2024, as we witness the cost imposed on those who claim to advocate for it. We saw Musk face trial after speculation that a tweet affected stock prices and watched Assange’s imprisonment and fight with the justice system.
The question of ‘why’ legal, social and moral consequences are imposed on what seems like progression may linger in the lips for more impressionable minds. But what Assange has called “the dangerous precedent” it sets on challenging the law, profiting on commercialising truth and shifting global power and narrative to the public might be on others. It begs the question of the price of truth and transparency for the active user in the foreseeable future and whether a deeper battle for control lay beneath the surface.
After watching am interview between former prime minister Boris Johnson and podcaster Steven Bartlett, I find myself left with question marks as I flick through history books and question whether attending Eton might also be my birthright of succession towards politics in the UK. And if so, I fear the spirit of Romulus Augustulus – a young Roman emperor who was appointed to office through succession and was ruled one of the worst emperors of the time. Allegedly given the nickname “little disappointment” by his subjects, his uneventful reign lasted less than a year. May he be haunting the halls of Westminster, I wonder? And although the idea of running from the philosophies and ideologies imposed and written by dead men may be somewhat politically satirical, I ponder on whether the solution is readjusting our perspective and reaching in for the reminiscence of hope left in Pandora’s Box.
“In all chaos there is cosmos, in all disorder a secret order,” said Carl Jung. As humans, we thrive in the pursuit of truth, discovering uncharted territories, and debating what is and was. And like a playground, our communication technospheres are filled with a subjective sense of curiosity through play, as we test and discover ways to generate a better sense of understanding. Our immediate cosmos may be the systems that are built to help us wander through access to informative resources. But like Neverland, the children must venture out of the gates to mould the purpose.
I believe that history contains fundamental clues to the possibilities of attaining and sustaining a golden age. And as information floats before our eyes, it’s a matter of reaching towards the most tried and tested forms of action and rejecting less progressive ideologies to achieve it.
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