Theory of Digital Social Control

The theory that digital platforms—social media, search engines, recommendation algorithms—function as systems of social control, shaping behavior, opinion, and identity at population scale. Unlike older forms of control (police, laws, propaganda), digital control works through seduction rather than coercion: algorithms learn what we want and give it to us, keeping us engaged, shaped, and manageable. The theory of digital social control examines how platforms create realities (by curating what we see), shape desires (by recommending what we might like), and manage populations (by predicting and influencing behavior). It's not conspiracy; it's business model. Control is exercised not through force but through the gentle, irresistible pull of personalized feeds. We think we're choosing; the theory suggests we're being chosen for.

Theory of Digital Social Control Example: "She studied the theory of digital social control and saw it everywhere—her feed showing her content that kept her engaged, angry, clicking; her recommendations shaping what she watched, bought, believed; her data used to predict and influence her next move. She wasn't a user; she was a user. The control was invisible because it felt like choice."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 16, 2026

Theory of Digital Social Control Systems

The theory that digital platforms are not isolated but form interconnected systems of control—data brokers sharing information, advertisers coordinating campaigns, platforms integrating with each other, all working together to shape populations at scale. A single platform can influence behavior; an interconnected system can shape society. The theory of digital social control systems examines how data flows between platforms (Facebook knows what you do on Instagram), how influence amplifies across networks (a trend on TikTok becomes news on Twitter), and how control becomes total when platforms cooperate (your searches shape your feeds, your feeds shape your purchases, your purchases shape your recommendations). The system is not designed for control; control emerges from the interaction of systems designed for profit. But the effect is the same: populations managed, behaviors shaped, realities constructed.

Theory of Digital Social Control Systems Example: "He mapped the digital social control systems operating in his life—Google tracking his searches, Facebook knowing his friends, Amazon predicting his purchases, all sharing data, all shaping his experience. The systems weren't conspiring; they were just interconnected, each optimizing for engagement, together optimizing for control. He was the product, the resource, the managed population. The system worked perfectly."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 16, 2026