An egalitarian approach to [[Social Media]] would aim to create a more balanced, authentic, and inclusive environment where people feel encouraged to share genuine aspects of their lives rather than curated perfection. Here’s how social [[Media]] could shift toward egalitarianism in a way that promotes both realism and inspiration: 1. Curate Diverse and Balanced Content To reflect real life more accurately, social media platforms could prioritise a balance of content—showcasing moments of joy, success, and struggle alike. Rather than promoting only the most “engaging” or “perfect” images, an egalitarian platform would equally highlight ordinary, everyday moments, learning experiences, and growth stories. Encouraging users to share posts tagged with reflections, challenges, or lessons learned could make the platform more relatable and inclusive, fostering inspiration from a wider range of experiences. 2. [[Community]]-Based Recognition Social media often focuses heavily on individual achievements, sometimes fostering competition. An egalitarian approach would also celebrate collective efforts and [[Teams|community]]-driven accomplishments. This could mean spotlighting local events, volunteer work, team projects, or support networks. By placing value on community initiatives and group successes, social media could shift from highlighting individual milestones to promoting contributions that benefit everyone, encouraging people to engage with one another in positive, collaborative ways. 3. Support and Elevate All Users Equally Egalitarian social media would reduce the “influencer effect,” ensuring that users of all follower counts are given equal opportunity to have their posts seen. For example, rather than relying solely on metrics like likes, shares, or follower counts to promote content, platforms could use algorithms that give equal weight to all users, emphasising the quality or relevance of posts instead of just popularity. This would allow diverse voices and perspectives to surface, giving a platform to those who might otherwise feel overshadowed. 4. Reward Authentic Engagement Over Vanity Metrics Current social media platforms often centre on metrics like “likes” or “views,” which can encourage people to post content purely for validation. An egalitarian approach would instead reward engagement that fosters connection and reflection. For instance, comments, thoughtful exchanges, and content that sparks meaningful conversations could be valued more highly. This shift would help create an environment where posts are celebrated not for their popularity but for their ability to resonate, inspire, or provide genuine insights. 5. Encourage Transparent and Realistic Content Social media platforms could promote honesty and transparency by introducing “authenticity tags” or even optional “behind-the-scenes” stories that allow users to share the full picture. For example, users could opt to tag posts with details about the work, challenges, or even humorous mistakes that occurred in the process of reaching a goal. By openly sharing struggles as well as accomplishments, users could inspire others through realistic portrayals, making social media a place where people feel comfortable sharing both highs and lows. ## [[Poverty & Mental Health]] 6. Develop Features for Positive Mental Health and Wellness The determinants of [[Mental Health]] and wellbeing are largely about the society we live in, rather than medical. An egalitarian platform would actively promote mental wellness, reducing pressures that come from constant social comparison. Features like screen time limits, personalised reminders to take breaks, and mental health prompts could be embedded, encouraging users to interact with social media in a balanced, [[Sustainable]] way. By helping users create healthy [[Boundaries]], such a platform could reduce the anxieties tied to overuse or comparison, contributing to an overall environment that supports users’ well-being. The Centre for Mental Health says: As a society, we cannot improve mental health or tackle the scourge of mental health inequality without tackling poverty and addressing income and wealth inequality. So these must be at the heart of a national effort to boost mental health equality. Suicide rates are two to three times higher in the most deprived neighbourhoods compared to the most affluent. 7. Promote Everyday Moments and Relatable Wins An egalitarian social media platform could celebrate the small joys of daily life, giving equal weight to both major achievements and quiet, everyday successes. It might introduce prompts or categories for users to share moments of gratitude, personal reflections, or simple life joys—making social media a place where people find inspiration not just in grand milestones but in the little things that make life meaningful. This approach would create a feed that reflects a broader, more inclusive range of human experiences. 8. Support Content that Reflects Shared Social Values To foster an environment focused on mutual respect, support, and social good, an egalitarian platform could feature content that promotes values like empathy, sustainability, and social responsibility. Posts about community service, environmental action, or mutual support networks could be given special visibility, inspiring users to connect around causes that benefit [[Society]]. By celebrating these shared values, social media could motivate users to see their lives and achievements in the context of broader, positive social contributions. Conclusion Adopting an egalitarian model on social media would cultivate a space that reflects the full range of human experience, encouraging users to connect on a more genuine level. By valuing authenticity, [[Community]], and mental wellness, this approach would empower people to find inspiration in realistic portrayals of life, emphasizing shared growth and empathy over competition or curated perfection. In doing so, social media could become a tool for meaningful connection and realistic inspiration—one that celebrates people’s lives as they truly are, with all their unique, relatable moments. ## **Challenges for Authority-Aligned Individuals** People accustomed to [[hierarchical]] structures may struggle more than others in anarchistic or egalitarian systems for several reasons: ![[_illustration_of_People_accustomed to authority.jpg]] ### **1. Loss of Defined Roles** • Hierarchical systems provide clearly defined roles, power structures, and rules. Those who thrive in such environments may feel adrift without explicit authority to guide or validate their actions. • Egalitarian systems, which require self-initiative, flexibility, and cooperation, can feel overwhelming or chaotic to individuals reliant on external direction. ### **2. Resistance to Trusting the Group** • In hierarchical systems, trust often depends on formal authority or status. Adapting to a community that relies on mutual trust and consensus may feel risky or alien. ### **3. Difficulty Navigating Fluid Power Dynamics** • Authority-aligned individuals are used to fixed hierarchies. The fluid, situational leadership of anarchist systems may appear unstable or unreliable. ### **4. Conflict Between Values** • Hierarchical systems often reward competitiveness, obedience, and material success. In an egalitarian society, values like empathy, mutual aid, and collective well-being are prioritised, creating internal conflicts for those with deeply ingrained hierarchical values. ## **Thoughts About Hierarchical Alignment** ### **1. Adaptation Requires Deconditioning** • Works like _[[The Dispossessed]]_ and _[[Woman on the Edge of Time]]_ suggest that unlearning hierarchical conditioning is key to thriving in egalitarian systems. This process is slow and challenging, requiring individuals to let go of ingrained notions of power, competition, and individualism. ### **2. Hierarchical Conditioning Reflects Fear of Chaos** • Many people align themselves with hierarchical systems because they fear the unpredictability of decentralised or collective governance. These stories explore how these fears may not reflect the reality of well-functioning communal systems. ### **3. Flexibility is Key** • Individuals who value adaptability and open-mindedness are often better equipped to integrate into egalitarian communities. Conversely, rigid adherence to hierarchical values can create friction. **Conclusion** Several works of fiction examine the challenges faced by authority-aligned individuals in transitioning to egalitarian, anarchist systems. These stories often reveal how deeply hierarchical structures condition individuals to value obedience, competition, and rigid roles. By imagining the process of de-conditioning and adaptation, these works highlight both the resilience of hierarchical ideologies and the transformative potential of communal living. They challenge readers to consider whether they, too, might struggle to integrate into a world without authority. ## [[David Graeber]] [[David Graeber]] was a joyful, celebratory person. An enthusiast, voluble, on fire with the possibilities in the ideas and ideologies he wrestled with. Every time we met – from New Haven in the early 00s to London a few years before his death in 2020 – he was essentially the same: beaming, rumpled, with a restless energy that seemed to echo the constant motion of his mind, words tumbling out as though they were, in their unstoppable abundance, overflowing. But he was also much respected in activist circles for being a good listener, and his radical egalitarianism was borne out in how he related to the people around him. Essays such as Dead Zones of the [[imagination]]: On Violence, Bureaucracy, and ‘Interpretive Labor’ and his book Bullshit Jobs came from using the equipment of an anthropologist on stuff usually regarded as boring, or not regarded at all – the function and impact of bureaucracy. His 2011 bestseller on debt reminded us that money and finance are among the social arrangements that could be rearranged for the better. ## Decentralised cooperation, mutual aid, and the rejection of hierarchical dominance. 1. Decentralised Cooperation (Sunil Amrith) Amrith’s exploration of civilisation highlights the interdependence of communities and the need for shared management of resources, such as water systems and trade networks. This resonates with anarchistic ideals that advocate for non-hierarchical, cooperative governance structures where resources are managed collectively rather than controlled by state or corporate entities. Anarchism prioritises voluntary associations and the dissolution of power imbalances. Amrith’s perspective on civilisation as a product of collective action aligns with the belief that societies can function without rigid hierarchies, relying instead on mutual agreements and shared responsibility. 2. The Power of Empathy and Mutual Aid ([[Chris Hedges]]) Hedges’ narrative focuses on the transformative role of kindness, even in the face of oppressive systems. His reflections on empathy and solidarity mirror anarchistic principles of mutual aid, a concept famously articulated by Peter Kropotkin. Mutual aid is the idea that cooperative behaviour and acts of care are not just moral choices but evolutionary necessities for thriving societies. Hedges also critiques the dehumanisation fostered by hierarchical systems, suggesting that kindness is inherently revolutionary. This dovetails with anarchistic thought, which sees resistance to oppressive systems as both a practical and moral imperative, rooted in the preservation of humanity through egalitarianism and solidarity. 3. Shared Themes with Anarchism Both videos critique centralised power structures: • Amrith critiques the environmental and social exploitation inherent in colonial and industrial systems, implying the need for more horizontal, community-driven management. • Hedges critiques state and corporate violence, highlighting the resilience and dignity of individuals who act in solidarity against such forces. An anarchistic vision incorporates these ideas by advocating for: • Decentralisation: A focus on local, community-based solutions rather than top-down governance. • Empathy as Praxis: Building societies on principles of cooperation and care rather than competition and control. • Egalitarianism: Removing hierarchies that exploit labour, resources, or human relationships. In essence, both videos argue for a society in which power is distributed, cooperation replaces domination, and empathy becomes a guiding principle—ideals at the heart of anarchism. These discussions support the idea that a more egalitarian society is not only desirable but also historically and morally necessary. `Concepts:` [[Politics|Politics]] `Knowledge Base:` egalitarian