Privacy Lost: Parallels Between 1984 and Social Media Surveillance

Introduction: Echoes of 1984

George Orwell's 1984 depicts a society under Big Brother's control, where constant surveillance is the norm. Today, technology mirrors this reality, as we share personal information and activities, making us vulnerable to surveillance.

Thesis: Modern technology, with its erosion of privacy and social media surveillance, brings us closer to the dystopian world of 1984.

Erosion of Privacy

Social Media Overexposure

Firstly, young people and adults are often tethered to social media, sharing their daily lives and consequently sacrificing their privacy.

Digital Footprints and Surveillance

Secondly, the digitalization of our lives leaves data trails across various platforms, leading to mass surveillance.

Conclusion: A Warning from 1984

In conclusion, if we do not use technology responsibly, we risk losing our privacy to social media surveillance. These platforms could potentially be used to control, manipulate, and repress society, much like the government in 1984.

Historical and Fictional Parallels

The manipulation of the past, as seen in Adolf Hitler's writings and Orwell's novel, is a tool for maintaining dictatorial regimes. By erasing and altering past events, these regimes suppress dissent and control their citizens. This manipulation silences opposition and reinforces the regime's power.

In 1984, the government fabricates a new past, and any attempt to challenge it is met with severe punishment, even 'vaporization.' The true past is systematically erased until it ceases to exist.

As Orwell states, "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past" (p. 89). This highlights how manipulating the past shapes beliefs and creates a new reality, thereby controlling the future.

The repression of freedom stems from thoughtcrime, which opposes doublethink and the Party's directives. Doublethink allows the government to alter reality at will; if news disappears from the press, it is as if it never existed.

Control of information is crucial for dominating societies, and governments strive to prevent thoughtcrime. This manipulation shapes the future by instilling the mental ability to accept manufactured realities. However, Winston, the protagonist, believes it is time to act.

This is evident when he starts his diary, documenting past events. Despite working for the Ministry of Truth, Winston opposes the government and hides his thoughts to avoid committing thoughtcrime.