Social Media: freedom or illusion?

We live immersed in social media, holding tightly to the illusion of freedom.

Free to speak our minds, to inform ourselves, to choose what to watch and who to listen to. But are we truly free — or merely performing in a space that others have designed for us?

Social media: freedom or illusion?

Social platforms promise us connection & participation, yet increasingly act as tools of control dressed up as liberty.

Powerful structures, political systems, corporations, economic elites use these networks not to hear us, but to steer us.

Our likes, shares, even the time we linger on a post, are tracked, analysed, sold.

What we end up seeing is not reality, but a curated reflection, shaped precisely to keep us hooked, predictable, and persuadable.

Algorithms don’t offer freedom; they offer convenience. But that convenience comes at a steep price. It locks us into content bubbles that confirm what we already believe, makes us feel “right” even when we’re coasting in ignorance, and stops us questioning what truly matters. Opinions polarise. People isolate. Society fractures. All while we believe we’re actively engaging in public discourse.

The greatest danger? Our own unawareness.

We think we’re in control, but we’re being shaped. Social media doesn’t just show us the world — it redefines it for us. And it does so based on commercial, political, and cultural interests that often have nothing to do with our wellbeing. They influence what we want, how we see others, even how we view ourselves. This manipulation is subtle, daily, pervasive — and precisely because of that, deeply dangerous.

This isn’t just a threat to older generations. It’s perhaps even more dangerous for the young. Growing up believing that visibility matters more than truth, that popularity outweighs critical thought, that appearance is everything — builds fragile identities, conditioned minds, and relationships filtered through hollow metrics. Many young people today struggle to separate who they are from how they appear. And adults, too, often lack the tools to protect themselves — or guide others.

Being “connected” isn’t enough. We must be alert, aware, critical.

We need to cultivate digital literacy, understand how these systems work, and educate ourselves — and future generations — to distinguish between real information and subtle propaganda, between genuine engagement and digital dependency.

So, how do we reclaim our freedom?

By asking questions. By switching off the screen and switching on the mind. By seeking out diverse sources, listening to opposing views, embracing doubt and dialogue. Not everything that goes viral is true, and not everything that moves us is right.

True freedom isn’t infinite scrolling — it’s conscious choice. It's not following the current, but seeing it clearly from the outside.

To be free today means using digital tools — without being used in return.

The online world is powerful. But only if we enter it with open eyes and a sharp mind.Otherwise, what we call “freedom”… is nothing more than a beautifully packaged illusion.

And you — how aware are you of what you see each day on social media?

Share your experience.

Have you ever felt manipulated, or learned to see beyond the screen? Change begins with awareness, with honest conversation, with reflection. We are all part of this digital reality, we can either remain its subjects or begin to reshape it.

Share your thoughts.

Because the first step towards real freedom is recognising when we’re not truly living it.

The above reflections are partly indebted to The Theatre of the Mind, a multidisciplinary project that combines video and photography to explore complex themes such as faith, sexuality, trauma, and individual freedom, through authentic conversations with real people.

by Loredana Denicola

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