The Digital Vortex of Illusions
We live in a world where reality bends at the speed of a swipe. Social media, once an innocent tool for sharing moments, has transformed into a vortex of misinformation, warped identities, and illusionary truths. From glitch-in-the-matrix videos to flat earth theories, moon landing conspiracies, and endless rabbit holes, the internet is now flooded with content that began as jokes or thought experiments but has since been misinterpreted as reality. For many young people facing uncertainty, anxiety, or loneliness, these distorted views are clung to like lifeboats.
But here’s the truth: most of these ‘theories' are entertainment packaged as belief systems, often created by individuals who profit from your engagement. They seek likes, followers, ad revenue - and they don't care if you're left questioning your sanity in the process. In a world with no consequences, where influencers stage perfect lives and online personas become idols, youth are being fed a constant diet of unrealistic expectations and disinformation.
The New Role Models: A Mirage
Look around. How many are chasing a Kardashian fantasy? The same bags, same makeup, same staged ‘candid' photos. Young minds, eager to belong, adopt these personas without realizing they're being used. It's not empowerment - it's marketing. It's not authenticity - it's an illusion. And the cost? Identity confusion, debt, body dysmorphia, and a warped sense of self-worth based on digital approval.
The Political Grift and Cult-Like Thinking
The manipulation doesn’t stop at beauty influencers. We saw it during COVID. People with titles, publishing fake books and videos, convincing millions that science was a hoax - all for profit. Entire movements, like MAGA in the U.S., grew into cult-like followings where truth became irrelevant. People weren’t thinking critically - they were being played. And yes, even adults were vulnerable.
What we're seeing now is not just misinformation - it's societal disintegration. An entire movement built on entitlement, paranoia, and resentment. A predominantly white group convinced they are the center of the world, ignoring the reality that they make up only about 10% of the global population. That kind of arrogance will not survive a world that's becoming increasingly united, diverse, and interconnected.
Cut the Cord
CNN. FOX. MSNBC. YouTubers. TikTokers. Influencers. They're all selling something. Their job is to keep you watching, clicking, scrolling. Not informing. Not educating. Just monetizing your attention. If you're serious about knowing what's real, the first step is to cut the cord. Stop feeding the beast.
Use Your Brain: A Checklist for Reality
Ask yourself:
- Who is posting this? What do they gain?
- Is this meant to inform or to provoke?
- What is the source, and is it credible?
- Are there other perspectives?
- Does this content make you feel more afraid, more angry, or more confused? That might be the point.
Better Alternatives: Rebuilding Clarity
- Get offline often: Real life doesn't happen through screens.
- Follow independent educators: Not influencers. Seek out those committed to truth, not fame.
- Read more books: Especially ones that aren't trying to sell you a product or idea.
- Surround yourself with people who ask questions: Not ones who repeat slogans.
- Practice being bored: It's where creativity and clarity are born.
Final Words: We Are One
This world doesn't need more digital clones, rage-fueled movements, or fragile egos. It needs people who can think, feel, and live with purpose. You are not your follower count. You are not your influencer idol. And you are definitely not alone unless you choose to be.
To entitled people especially: entitlement is a dangerous lie. You're not superior, not central, and not immune. The world is watching, and if war ever erupts on a global scale, you will not be the center - you may find yourselves isolated. So step down from the delusion and join the rest of humanity. Humble yourself. Learn. Connect.
We are one.
Stop scrolling. Start thinking.