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Is the world seeing a resurgence of dictatorships?

Micah McAless

Yes, the world is indeed seeing a resurgence of dictatorships, but not in the traditional sense that we are used to. While many countries still have authoritarian leaders who wield their power abusively, there is a new breed of dictatorship emerging in the digital age that is arguably even more insidious.

In the past, dictatorships were often characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or group, who then imposed their will on the rest of the population through force or coercion. However, in the modern era, the emergence of social media has fundamentally changed the nature of power and control, making it easier than ever before for individuals and organizations to manipulate public opinion and exert influence over the masses.

One of the clearest examples of this new form of digital dictatorship can be seen in China, where the government has embraced a model of social control that has been dubbed “digital authoritarianism”. Through the use of massive databases and sophisticated algorithms, the Chinese government is able to monitor the online activities of its citizens, censor dissenting voices, and even assign social credit scores to individuals based on their behavior. This has effectively transformed the internet into a tool of social control, allowing the government to manipulate public opinion and quash dissenting voices.

However, China is not alone in utilizing digital technology to strengthen its hold on power. Many other countries, both authoritarian and democratic, are also harnessing the power of social media and other digital tools to influence public opinion and shape the political landscape. For example, in the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russian hackers used social media to spread propaganda and sow discord, potentially shaping the outcome of the election in favor of Donald Trump.

It is not just foreign governments that are using digital tools to manipulate public opinion either. Many authoritarian leaders around the world have also become skilled in the art of social media manipulation, using bots and other tools to artificially amplify their message and drown out opposing voices. This has made it increasingly difficult for citizens to discern truth from fiction, and has even destabilized democratic institutions in some countries.

So while traditional forms of dictatorship may still exist in some parts of the world, the rise of digital authoritarianism presents a new and potentially more pernicious threat to democracy and individual freedom. As users of social media and other digital technologies, it is incumbent upon us to recognize the dangers of this new form of power and work to protect our rights and freedoms in the digital age.