Brexit, psychological profiling and the ethics crisis.
American writer Gregory S Williams said “Think for yourself. Ignore the noises around you that polarise and try to promote fear and division. You know better. Be better.’’ With more and more specifically targeted advertising and content on social media it becomes increasingly difficult to filter out the ‘noise’ as Williams describes it. This essay examines how social media is used as a tool by government and private companies to influence public opinion and in the process deliberatly create division in society. From the Brexit Vote Leave campaign to inciting acts of terrorism, social media has become a tool for control that has far reaching repurcussions for society. Everytime you interact with social media whether it’s a like on a Facebook post, a retweet or comment on Instagram, you’re creating a digital footprint. This footprint is similar to the one you create browsing the internet as a whole, from online shopping to reading your favourite fashion blog. However what makes y...
