Introduction: David Bowie's Alien
November 26, 2024·29 comments·In Brief
We're told social networks amplify our voices and connect us more authentically. The mechanics work exactly the opposite. External narratives don't enhance our thinking. They replace it. We absorb stories designed by others and experience them as our own ideas, as if we came up with them all along.
• The transformation social networks enabled is unprecedented in how it works. Writing changed thought. But it still required you to do the thinking. Social networks make other people's abstractions feel like your own consciousness. The difference is between a tool that changes how you think and a system that replaces thinking itself.
• Our brains are evolutionarily wired to internalize external stories. For millennia, we desperately needed cultural narratives and couldn't easily access them. That scarcity created an intense drive to absorb the stories we encountered. Now that drive exists in a world of infinite accessible narratives designed to be internalized.
• What we call democratization of voice is actually the perfection of outsourcing. We're told anyone can broadcast their inner voice now. What's actually happening is the system has become remarkably efficient at disguising external voices as internal ones.
• The loneliness, fragmentation, and conspiracy we see aren't separate problems caused by social networks. They're all expressions of the same mechanism. When your sense of what you think becomes detached from your actual cognition, everything downstream breaks.
• The question isn't whether social networks have changed us. It's whether we can think independently of them anymore, or if that capacity is already gone.
The Why of Epsilon Theory
- Make more informed decisions as an investor and citizen.
- See through the nudges of Big Politics and Big Media.
- Become a better consumer of news.
- Maintain your autonomy of mind in a swarm of narratives.
- Join a community of more than 100,000 truth-seekers.
Unlock instant access to this and hundreds of other evergreen essays that explore the world of narrative through hard science and human wisdom.
Looking for Deeper Insights?
Unlock exclusive market intelligence, trade ideas, and member-only events tailored for investment professionals and active investors with Perscient Pro.
VISIT PRO
DISCLOSURES
This commentary is being provided to you as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. The opinions expressed in these materials represent the personal views of the author(s). It is not investment research or a research recommendation, as it does not constitute substantive research or analysis. Any action that you take as a result of information contained in this document is ultimately your responsibility. Epsilon Theory will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information. Consult your investment advisor before making any investment decisions. It must be noted, that no one can accurately predict the future of the market with certainty or guarantee future investment performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Statements in this communication are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are as of the date of this publication. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, and there is no guarantee that any predictions will come to pass. The views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. Epsilon Theory disclaims any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. This information is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities. This commentary has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Epsilon Theory recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a financial advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.
