Abstract
The Impact of Digital Media on Critical Theory extends the critical framework of Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer's Dialectic of Enlightenment to interrogate the evolving landscape of digital media. This paper focuses on social media platforms which have become deeply embedded in the culture industry, perpetuating its dynamics through newer forms and means. By examining concepts such as "pseudo-individualization," the study reveals how these platforms create an illusion of personalized experiences while serving market interests.
Key Themes
Commodification of Identity: The paper analyzes how digital platforms commodify identity, community, and culture, transforming them into entities that can be traded and modified. This shift challenges foundational constructs of social reality, as envisioned by Frankfurt School theorists.
Digital Ontology: We explore the ontological implications of digital media, highlighting how the culture industry’s persistent echoes influence the construction of identity and community. The paper urges a reassessment of how these dynamics affect resistance within social media.
Relevance of Frankfurt School: By situating the insights of Adorno and Horkheimer within the digital era, the paper expands critical theory's relevance and challenges the ongoing dominance of the culture industry, offering insights into potential resistances within the digital landscape.