Prompt 1 min read

Digital Provincialism

Painting of a pink orchid and hummingbirds in a misty jungle
Source

Digital provincialism is intentionally moving toward passive information economies and away from self-authorship. It is not only accepting but actively pursuing the snugness of algorithmic duvets.

It is the fitting in that adapts information habits that lead to ‘low context confusion,’ the false belief that we understand each other. Instead of ‘high context confusion,’ giving others the space to pursue individual meaning (creativity) while in community, and before they have the words for it.

Digital provincialism does not care about belonging, but always asks for everyone’s focus to be on the same thing. It asks for the most scarce resource, attention, with no return. It congregates around someone else’s media rather than everyone’s developing ideas.

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