The survival instinct of individuals within a group easily deceives them to imitate unison acts of peers in that group. This is particularly true in the era of active social media consumption.
While being a part of a group has undeniable benefits, people often engage in actions blindly, driven by the desire not to act alone and to avoid the fears of novelty faced individually.
Acting in unison with group peers gives sense of safety. However, it is definitely not safe all the time. Each case demands an individual approach to be thoroughly evaluated, examining whether the behavior aligns with objectivity, mental, and moral needs.
Research backed by Cass R. Sunstein discovered that when individuals with similar views gather in a group, their opinions tend to become more extreme. Group discussions often amplify existing beliefs (it doesn’t matter those beliefs are grounded or not), leading to a polarization of attitudes within the group.
In cohesive groups, there can be a tendency to prioritize harmony and conformity over critical thinking. This phenomenon, known as groupthink, can lead to flawed decision-making.
People often conform to group norms and expectations, even if those norms go against their personal beliefs. This can lead to the adoption of behaviors, opinions, or attitudes that align with the majority. Video above showcases how ridiculuos a situation can be when there is a high rate of conformity in a group.
On top of the social media, lifestyle of modern society is skillfully tailored to serve a ‘small groups’ of people distributed all over the world with suspicious motives driven by hunger for power and control whether they are capable of ruling or not.
“Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold it.” — Plato.
Phenotypical differences between groups are there for a good reason. They sustain continuous life on Earth. The diverse lifestyle of separate groups prepares them for unforeseen challenges and increase their chance of survival in critical situations.
Modern technology facilitates rapid globalization in almost all aspects of our lives — biological (food, medical), mental, moral, and logical. It should be consumed very carefully to minimize potential harms. We risk losing our individuality every day and become more prone to threats.
I was using brand new Iphone 4S model in 2014. The device was regularly updated automatically without my consent. In one of those updates my phone got bricked (lost it’s ability to function forever). After researching the reason on the internet I learned that because of that patricular software update more than 300 000 Iphone models got bricked at the same time.
Consider humanity like a widely used app or device utilized by billions of people simultaneously. Before implementing updates, it’s crucial to thoroughly test them to prevent unexpected consequences.
Fortunately, we still have option to decline updates and download only filtered updates for our bodies and minds.
