#panopticon effect

[softlifesofttech]

002 Social Media's Silent, Yet Loud, Gaze

The previous discussion doesn’t necessarily account for people experiencing these effects on platforms where their connections are more personal. However, the surveillance dynamics within personal relationships are equally worthy of exploration. Social groups—family, friends, and others—are often forced to share a singular digital space, leading to context collapse. This collapse heightens anxiety as users navigate how they are perceived by multiple groups simultaneously, which can breed mistrust even within the closest of relationships. Particularly, users will analyse interactions on platforms like Instagram, where personal connections are more pronounced than on free-for-all platforms like Twitter. They may approach each interaction with excessive detail, falling into the trap of over-interpretation. For example, someone not responding to a comment or viewing a story without engaging might be perceived as a deliberate act. These ambiguous actions can easily manifest into darker thoughts if not counteracted. What users may not understand is that these actions might simply be a case of social overload or simply nothing. Such behaviours are so inconsequential to others that the outcome as stated is not even considered in the realm possibility. Yet, for the person overanalysing, these perceived slights can feel significant and deeply personal.

This tendency to overanalyse digital interactions is symptomatic of the broader challenges from social media. Platforms amplify even the most minor behaviours, making them feel significant in ways they aren't. This heightened sensitivity can distort our understanding of social dynamics, turning neutral or benign things into something larger. These interpretations then spiral, creating unnecessary tension in both digital and offline spaces. In a world mediated by digital platforms, the lines between connection, observation, and judgment have become marred. Social media has created a unique space where users must navigate an interplay of visibility, validation, and vulnerability. The resulting anxiety, paranoia, and mistrust can deeply impact how we view ourselves and our relationships. Recognising these dynamics so we can reclaim a healthier relationship with these platforms is key. Ultimately, the question we must ask is: How much of our digital anxiety is self-imposed, and how much is engineered by the platforms we use?

[softlifesofttech]

001 Social Media's Silent, Yet Loud, Gaze

"I lied, y'all—delete your Instagram. Everybody on there is plotting, watching, and doesn’t like you. Start over."

Over the past few years, I’ve seen several iterations of this same tweet or sentiment. It got me thinking about whether there are any studies or phenomena that explore how social media contributes to anxiety and hyperawareness due to its borderline surveillance nature. This particular tweet might seem like a throwaway comment, but I think it speaks to larger issues that don’t yet have precise language to describe them. It captures a perfect intersection of social media anxiety, paranoia, and hyper-surveillance. Our digital platforms today almost act as courtyards, and by nature, environments where users feel constantly observed. Likes, comments, and views quantify this, making it feel all the more real and measurable. Whether these metrics tell the full story is a different matter entirely. Nonetheless, users exist in a heightened state of awareness regarding their audience. That audience watches, and a quiet part of our minds tells us that watching is inevitably followed by judgment. This dynamic fosters self-censorship, hyper-vigilance, and anxiety. For some, the mere idea of an audience that closely monitors behaviour can be a source of great stress.

If we want to circle back to theory, this phenomenon could loosely tie into the panopticon effect. In the panopticon model, prisoners in a courtyard are under constant observation from a central watchtower, whether or not guards are actively watching. Similarly, social media creates the feeling of being perpetually observed by an invisible audience, even if no one is engaging with you. Unlike the prisoner-guard relationship, however, this surveillance is two-way; users are both watchers and watched. They are an actor in the very same structure they repel. These dynamics seem to go unnoticed, or the self-absorption takes precedence, making the dots difficult to connect. The new age of Elon Musk’s Twitter (post-2022) exacerbates this phenomenon. The loss of a personal timeline, and by extension, the loss of key interactions one may have had previously, the introduction of a "For You" page filled with content antithetical to you (said to be intentional to boost engagement through discord), and the emergence of tiered experiences via premium features have fundamentally altered the platform’s social dynamics. What once felt like a communal courtyard now feels distant and fragmented, amplifying feelings of disconnection. This shift feeds into what can be termed algorithmic anxiety. Unaware to many who may be experiencing such, social media algorithms prioritise specific interactions, such as engagement driven by controversy or outrage. However, when more seemingly normal content is given centre stage, it can amplify feelings of exclusion for users. For instance, when users post content that receives fewer likes or interactions, they might interpret this as evidence of being disliked or ignored. Unlike the physical panopticon, where observation is implied, visibility on social media is explicit through notifications and engagement metrics. These tangible markers often lead users to draw conclusions—accurate or not—about their social standing. Furthermore, there isn't particularly a clear-cut way to drive content engagement or visibility, this unpredictability can intensify that feeling of being scrutinised. This can further stress users and erode trust in their digital relationships. This paranoia often spills into offline relationships that also occupy a digital space, such as friendships on social media. Research has shown that heightened social media use can lead to negative comparisons and damage to self-esteem. By comparing themselves to the curated, idealised lives of others, individuals may feel alienated for failing to fit predefined molds or expectations. This alienation can harm perceptions of their social relationships. Everyone yearns for connection, even in digital spaces, and the fear of exclusion can make users particularly sensitive. Some have reported sensing hostility or judgment from their online mutuals, even without concrete evidence to support these feelings. This ties into rumination and confirmation bias, where even ambiguous behaviours can become a point of contention. A 2020 study published in Psychiatry Research found a connection between social media use and paranoia. Increased usage, especially during periods of isolation, was associated with heightened feelings of persecution. This suggests that the surveillance-like nature of social media platforms, combined with their tendency to amplify insecurities, may play a significant role in these psychological effects.