The Illusion of Freedom

The Illusion of Freedom

Today, technological advancements have expanded the possibilities for individuals to express themselves, shape their identities, and become visible. At the same time, however, they have created an invisible system of control and guidance. Through social media algorithms, personal data, and digital content, individuals are led to believe they are making free choices, while in reality, they are being steered toward options presented by the system.

As Michel Foucault described with his metaphor of the panopticon, individuals are no longer controlled primarily through external pressure, but rather through internalized norms.

In this context, religious boundaries also become a subject of debate. While traditional religious structures define the individual's life with specific rules, these rules sometimes aim to preserve inner balance and meaning. However, when these boundaries become dogmatic, they can weaken one’s ability to think, question, and grow. At this point, the authority of religion and the manipulation of modern systems serve a similar function: both shape the individual's perception of freedom.

According to Jean Baudrillard’s theory of simulation, this state of freedom is often nothing more than an image. Through the narratives of "freedom" offered by both the digital world and dogmatic structures, the individual falls under a new form of domination.

True freedom, as Søren Kierkegaard emphasized, begins when the individual confronts their own existence before God and truth. Neither the boundlessness of technology nor the absoluteness of religion alone can provide freedom. Freedom lies hidden in the courage to consciously strike a balance between these two extremes.