Social Media, quo vadis!?

When Intimacy Becomes a Data Asset to Exploit…

Image created by GROK: click image to enlarge, please.

“Unlock the Power of AI for Free on Your Desktop! 🚀”
Are you ready to supercharge your productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills? Meet ChatGPT—the AI tool that’s changing how we work, learn, and innovate. Best of all, you can access it for free right from your Windows desktop!

In this tutorial series, I’ll guide you step-by-step through everything you need to know about ChatGPT: how to set it up, ask the right questions, and leverage its potential for blogging, learning, and beyond. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a tech-savvy pro, there’s something here for everyone.

Let’s dive in and discover how AI can make your life easier, more efficient, and a lot more fun!

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🧭 Introduction: When Intimacy Becomes a Data Asset to Exploit..

The arrival of artificial intelligence on social media platforms has not led to an improvement in digital ethics — on the contrary, it has amplified already alarming trends. We are now entering an era where the boundary between private life and algorithmic exploitation is increasingly blurred — or perhaps even completely erased. The latest example? Meta now claims the right to use not only your posts but also unpublished photos stored on your devices to train its AI systems. Link (in English): Meta may use your camera roll

This drift toward total control over our personal data is happening insidiously, met with general indifference or resignation. It’s no longer just about choosing what to show — it’s about being stripped of what we never intended to share. What remains of individual freedom in digital space? What remains of consent, if every new update to the terms of service becomes a one-sided contract signed under the pressure of social dependence?

In the face of these increasingly aggressive practices, one pressing question arises: how far will social media go? And how far will we let them?

This is exactly where #ReverseTHINKing begins: questioning what we take for granted — like the idea that our photo gallery is private… But what if that hasn’t been true since yesterday? Also read my tutorials on #ReverseTHINKing here: ReverseTHINKing: A Necessity for Rethinking Our Place in a Changing Society?

This tutorial offers a critical reflection on the evolution of social media in the age of artificial intelligence, increasing violations of privacy, and the urgent need to reclaim ethical control over our digital environment. Through an analysis of the mechanisms, abuses, and potential alternatives, it aims to raise awareness and encourage civic engagement in the face of technocratic overreach.

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An Attention Machine… and a Data Vacuum
Social media platforms aren’t free: your data is the currency.

• Captivating and retention algorithms (dopamine-driven design, filter bubbles, invasive personalization).
• The role of AI: from content sorting to behavioral manipulation.
• Critical analysis: are we users — or the product?

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Generative AI and Privacy: The New Digital Plunder
How AI systems are trained on our private data (photos, messages, faces, etc.).

• Examples: Meta, Google, TikTok — recovering unpublished or cloud-stored data.
• Abusive clauses hidden in unreadable Terms of Service.
• Ethical questions: consent, transparency, and boundaries.

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What Are the Societal Consequences?

• Involuntary hyperexposure: the end of the right to be forgotten?
• Algorithmic surveillance: are we headed for widespread social self-censorship?
• Risks for younger generations: forced digital identities, loss of image control.
• Toward a normalization of digital voyeurism?

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Why Do We Stay? Understanding Social Dependence

• Mechanisms of social addiction: FOMO, https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/06/14/from-woke-to-cancel-culture-trendy-terms-under-the-microscope-language-as-a-mirror-of-changing-values/, validation, influence.
• The paradox of choice: knowing it’s toxic… but staying anyway.
• A psychological and social analysis of our dependence on platforms.
• The alternatives? Rare and difficult — because the entire ecosystem relies on them (schools, businesses, media…).

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Can We Still Protect Our Privacy?

• Digital hygiene strategies (settings, permissions, digital detox).
• Practical tools and habits: VPNs, local storage, alternative networks.
• Why critical digital literacy is essential today.
• Rethinking our approach to sharing: not everything needs to be said, not everything needs to be shown.

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Reclaiming Control: Toward Ethical and Conscious Use

• The time for a digital civic awakening: saying STOP isn’t backward — it’s responsible.
• A call for a clear and citizen-respecting legal framework.
• The importance of teaching digital civics from a young age.
• Laying the groundwork for another kind of Internet — one based on transparency, respect, and choice.
  👉 Tim BERNERS-LEE: What’s the Status of SOLID? Read here

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Conclusion: “The Digital World We Deserve Depends on the Choices We Make”

• A synthesis of the key ideas.
• A call for reflection, collective discussion, and action.
• The future of social media is not yet written… but it will be shaped by those who dare to say NO.

This first insight calls for a necessary continuation. Further tutorials will explore this subject in greater depth. Stay tuned — and above all, stay critical!

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🧠 A Final Thought:
What if we reactivated that filter between our ears — also known as the brain — to get those grey cells moving again? 😉

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Related links, tutorials:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/the-synthesizing-mind-in-education-tackling-the-challenges-of-a-changing-world/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/a-modern-ethical-framework-for-a-changing-world-rebuilding-lost-wisdom-and-knowledge/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/09/chatgpt-free-for-windows-desktop-users-part-73/

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Check ALSO my Curation and EDU-related articles on my Blog

• https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-learning-and-teaching?tag=AI
• https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-innovative-technologies-and-developments?tag=AI

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Check ALSO:

ChatGPT FREE for Windows Desktop users, Part 38

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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From ‘Woke’ to ‘Cancel Culture’: Trendy Terms Under the Microscope – Language as a Mirror of Changing Values

Image created by ChatGPT: click image to enlarge, please.

“Unlock the Power of AI for Free on Your Desktop! 🚀”
Are you ready to supercharge your productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills? Meet ChatGPT—the AI tool that’s changing how we work, learn, and innovate. Best of all, you can access it for free right from your Windows desktop!

In this tutorial series, I’ll guide you step-by-step through everything you need to know about ChatGPT: how to set it up, ask the right questions, and leverage its potential for blogging, learning, and beyond. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a tech-savvy pro, there’s something here for everyone.

Let’s dive in and discover how AI can make your life easier, more efficient, and a lot more fun!

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🧭 Introduction

Each generation creates its own way of expressing itself – new words to distinguish themselves, signal belonging, or name current social developments. Language is alive and reflects the spirit of the times. In recent years, terms like “woke,” “to cancel,” or “toxic” have not only found their way into everyday speech but have also sparked intense debates. They are often used without a clear understanding of their exact meaning or origin. This tutorial aims to offer a brief orientation: What do these terms really mean, where do they come from – and how do they influence our thinking and communication?

📚 Modern Terms & Their Meanings

Term	Meaning
Woke	Originally: awake to social injustices (racism, discrimination). Today often used pejoratively for overly politically correct behavior.
Cancel Culture	The practice of “canceling” or boycotting public figures or works after problematic statements or actions.
Toxic	Describes harmful behaviors, relationships, or mindsets (e.g., toxic masculinity).
Gaslighting	A form of manipulation where someone is made to doubt their own perception or memory.
Cringe	Something that feels awkward, embarrassing, or causes second-hand embarrassment.
Based	Someone who boldly stands by their (often unpopular) opinion and remains true to themselves – the opposite of “woke.”
Slay	To do something with great confidence and style – especially in fashion or performance.
NPC	A metaphor for someone who blindly follows the crowd – derogatory, borrowed from the gaming world.
Main Character Energy	Someone presents themselves confidently, as if they were the “protagonist” of life. Can be both positive and egocentric.
Simp	Excessive courting of someone – often involving self-neglect.
FOMO	“Fear of missing out” – the fear of missing something important.
JOMO	“Joy of missing out” – the conscious enjoyment of abstaining from trends or constant presence.
Quiet Quitting	Work behavior where only the bare minimum is done – no emotional commitment.
Red Flag	A warning sign of problematic behavior (e.g., in relationships, politics, or communication).
Delulu	Slang for “delusional” – living in illusions or wishful thinking, usually meant humorously.

🧭 Language as a Mirror of Society
These terms show how deeply language reflects – and influences – social developments. They often emerge in digital spaces, spread through social media, and shape our thinking and behavior. Terms like “woke” or “cancel culture” have long since gained political relevance and become part of ideological debates. Others like “FOMO,” “slay,” or “cringe” highlight the emotional and performative dimension of our online age. It’s worthwhile not only to know these terms but also to question them critically: What do they reveal about our time? What values do they convey? And how consciously do we use language ourselves? Because the way we speak also shapes how we think – and ultimately how we live together.

🧠 Maybe it’s time to reactivate the filter between our ears – also known as the “brain” – and get those neurons firing again? 😉

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Check ALSO my Curation and EDU-related articles on my Blog

• https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-learning-and-teaching?tag=AI
• https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-innovative-technologies-and-developments?tag=AI

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Check ALSO:

ChatGPT FREE for Windows Desktop users, Part 38

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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