In our digital age, power has taken on a new form and the dynamics of influence have evolved beyond our wildest imaginations. As we explore the vast landscape of various social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and more, we find ourselves witnessing an intriguing phenomenon – the rise of the Digital Dictator.
While the prevalence of right-wing dictatorship might be somewhat expected, what truly stands out in the contemporary Western landscape is the remarkable ascendance of extreme left-wing micro-dictatorships. The left-wing dictator is more dangerous because they unconsciously threaten progress we have made to enable marginalised groups including themselves to have voice in the first place. The left-wing digital dictator is an enigma, often an unexpected figure, unlike historical counterparts, as they can emerge from previously marginalised individuals who gain power through the advancements of the Western world and access to the internet.
The Digital Dictator emerges as a self-appointed ruler of the realm of their own ideas, spreading their ideology, expected to be adopted as a new religion through social media platforms. These pages and groups reflect the very social behaviours which we see in the study of cultural constructions seen in spaces ruled by power hungry cult leaders and authoritarian rulers.
This article explores the philosophical implications of power and the serious consequences to society, culture and democracy.
The Allure of Power
There is great allure to create a social media page to champion a cause or an idea, and the reasons behind this are obvious. It offers a platform for one’s views, sparks debates, and gains a following.
Initially, these pages are launched with noble intentions, a desire to share one’s perspective and build a community and to raise awareness about a particular topic. Except, what many do not realise is that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton, 1887), no matter your race, your gender, your abilities, or your political beliefs. It absolutely applies to the digital realm just as it has applied to all domains in human history and in the modern day.
As individuals gain prominence and attract followers, their influence expands exponentially. These online communities simply reinforce an echo chamber of existing beliefs. Digital dictators thrive within these chambers as they maintain influence by catering to biases and expectations of followers. This leads them to ascend to a position of supreme authority over the narratives within the miniature society they have cultivated.
They become the de-facto government that dictates the prevailing discourse in these community threads.
Knowledge and Power: What Philosophy Teaches Us
In the field of sociology, French philosopher and social theorist Michel Foucault (1970), is often drawn on to provide a theoretical understanding of how power manifests in society. His work is particularly relevant to our discussion on digital dictatorship as he discusses the relationship between power and knowledge. People in positions of power control the narratives, language, words used and this is happening as well through how people interact in online communities. The most tyrannical manifestation of such power is evident when it coerces speech, imposes the adoption of specific ideas, and enforces penalties on those who refuse to conform to the prescribed ideas.
It is the ultimate control over knowledge.
Digital Dictators and their practices align exactly with Foucauldian ideas. First, these group dictators create community policy, rules and laws based on their own subjective view as the ultimate definition of truth. Their often-insecure followers, allured with the human desire for acceptance and the desperation to avoid social rejection at all costs, will often see them as ultimate authorities.
Followers obediently through self-monitoring and monitoring of others will echo these rules as factual and valid. Secondly, this power operates by including some voices but excluding others. Digital dictators do this by amplifying content and perspectives that align with their views and silence and cancel and marginalise those who oppose them.
In this way they are socially re-constructing a new, forced narrative.
Thirdly, people in power normalise certain behaviours and beliefs. Digital-dictators over time normalise their own ideology, making it the standard against which all others are measured. This normalisation stifles diversity of thought, freedom of speech and intellectual advancement for a society. It creates a homogenised online environment.
They also regulate language as they set the rules and tone for all conversations within their online communities determining what is acceptable and what is not. Where someone goes against group-law, they cancel, block or remove access to the group — philosophically symbolic to public execution. This power and control which digital dictators are creating have severe far-reaching social and political consequences. Particularly as they become more and more attractive for people to follow and adopt the ideas of based on the apparent moral value of their content.
However, philosophy teaches us that the more power you have, the more likely one is to have a reduced sense of morality.
Given the seductive nature of power, this movement is seeing the rise of digital pseudo-moral dictators multiplying with record speed. Amidst similar seductive temptations for power within the political arena, left-wing politicians are finding themselves requiring minimal effort as they ambitiously amass attention and undeserved accolades by aligning with causes championed by digital dictators on the internet.
Except with great power comes great responsibility.
Western Digital-Dictators and North Korea
Many of these digital dictators have limited consciousness given they appoint no democratic processes to ensure fair and power-neutral group-governance. These attitudes of character bear unsettling resemblance to what contributes to authoritarian regimes as seen in societies like North Korea. This is where opposition results in death or for now, death-like cancellation, and a single authority maintains and unchallenged grip on power.
These mini-North Koreas of the digital world are witnessing the corrupting influence of power. Akin to the character of Kim Jong Un, these self-proclaimed leaders insulate themselves from criticism as they lack the courage to face the flaws of their character. They gradually evolve into individuals with malevolent character traits. They surround themselves with an echo-chamber of like-minded followers who stroke their ego and never dare to challenge their intellect. To ensure we remain humble and fair and reasonable and rational, we must enable others to have access to review our character.
They may believe their moral stance on issues sets them apart, reinforcing a belief of subjective moral superiority; however, the lack of democratic checks and balances not only stifles healthy debate, but undermines the potential for constructive discourse, creating systemic barriers to the exploration of diverse viewpoints.
The danger always lies in unchecked authority as they have the potential for narratives which produce constricted ideas inadvertently emulating oppressive regimes.
It actually gives great insight into what sort of real leader they would be if they were given the chance to run any part of the country they so fiercely and ungratefully criticise.
While it might initially appear to be a vast stretch to equate small-time social media creators with the world’s most notorious dictators, it’s crucial to recognise the profound philosophical implications of this trend on society and the future of democracy.
The growing political influence they wield should not be underestimated.
The Dangers of New Power
The rise of these digital dictators among the previously marginalised voices of the left unveils the dangers inherent in their newfound power. Their journey from a historically disempowered status to becoming influential figures in the digital realm is marked by a unique set of challenges. These individuals are often still wrestling with unresolved historical grievances, fuelled by past experiences of exclusion and injustice. Now, they find themselves in a position of authority without the benefit of experience in managing social status and influencing others with finesse.
Their vulnerability to the corruptions of power on character is compounded by the lingering resentment that stems from their history of marginalisation, making it imperative to consider the profound consequences of this transition for both the individuals and the digital societies they lead.
The Philosophical Perspective: Corruption of the Soul
In philosophy, the corrupting influence of power has been a topic of profound reflection.
When you realise your power for influence, once noble intentions become lost. Moral compasses slowly drift often replaced by ego and bias which become prioritised over the greater good they aimed to originally serve.
This highlights the frailty of the human condition.
As people gain power and influence they become more interested in self-preservation and attaining power. It raises profound questions about the nature of integrity, dignity and the struggle to maintain it in the face of enticing magnetism of power.
Resisting the Dark Side
This article is to bring to attention how easily the potential we have for corruption as humans despite your intentions or belief in your own morality. This capacity lurks immediately behind us and in our own shadows. Its potential so closely situated to us that if you consider closely your own behaviours from day to day or week to week, how quickly you can slip and become incredibly resistant to a new idea especially if it goes against what you deeply believe to be true.
The allure of power, as seen through both philosophical and sociological lenses, reveals a complex interplay of human psychology and the online environment. An analysis such as this immediately brings attention to the intersections between biology, psychology and sociology and platforms that everything is not just a social construction.
Power can and will corrupt any one of us at any time and that the desire for power is deeply desired by every single one of us.
Understanding this phenomenon from multiple perspectives allows us to be vigilant about our online and social interactions and places more responsibility on us to challenge authoritarian positions in what poses as a democratic world.
It calls for collective responsibility to foster open debate and guard against digital dictators who are not being challenged enough.
This is not only paramount for political safety and the preservation of democracy but also an essential undertaking in our digital age.
