Picture this: A teenager sits on their bed, phone in hand, endlessly scrolling through TikTok. One video makes them laugh. Another shows them a product they didn’t know they needed. Hours pass, and when they finally put their phone down, the world feels no different. They feel no different.
This isn’t just a snapshot of today—it’s the chilling reality Aldous Huxley envisioned in Brave New World. A society pacified not by oppression, but by pleasure. A generation distracted, not by force, but by convenience. And the question we must ask ourselves is simple but urgent: Are we raising a generation that will never dream of revolution?
The Role of Technology: Algorithms as the New Conditioning
In Huxley’s world, people were conditioned to love their servitude. Today, we don’t need dystopian conditioning—we have algorithms.
Every swipe, click, and search is analyzed, creating a feedback loop that shapes what we see. TikTok feeds us what’s familiar. Spotify curates playlists that reflect who we already are. Amazon predicts our needs before we voice them.
These tools are convenient, even impressive. But they come with a cost: They narrow our perspectives, flatten our curiosity, and keep us in comfortable bubbles. The result? A generation that rarely questions what lies beyond the algorithm.
When technology decides for us, are we still free to think for ourselves?
Consumerism: Selling Conformity as Individuality
In Brave New World, consumerism wasn’t just an economic system—it was a way of life. People were conditioned to consume endlessly, equating happiness with possessions.
Today, brands don’t just sell products—they sell identities. Social media influencers promote lifestyles that look unique but follow the same template: curated, polished, and monetized. Consumers, especially young people, are encouraged to express individuality through what they buy, wear, or post.
But is this individuality, or just another layer of conformity? When a generation is taught to find meaning through consumption, rebellion becomes harder to imagine.
Education: From Curiosity to Compliance
Education should be the antidote to conformity—a place where young minds are inspired to question, imagine, and innovate. But too often, it isn’t.
Standardized testing prioritizes rote memorization over critical thinking. Curriculums focus on compliance rather than creativity. Students learn what to think, not how to think.
Without curiosity, there is no rebellion. Without imagination, there is no change. If we want a generation that dreams of revolution, we must demand an education system that values exploration over standardization.
Entertainment: The Great Pacifier
Huxley’s society distracted its citizens with shallow entertainment, keeping them too busy enjoying themselves to question the world around them. Sound familiar?
Today, endless content streams—from Netflix binges to viral TikToks—dominate our time and attention. Entertainment is designed to keep us scrolling, laughing, and consuming. But when was the last time a binge-watch session left you inspired to take action?
Entertainment doesn’t have to be a pacifier. It can be a spark. Think of documentaries that ignite movements, campaigns that challenge norms, or art that provokes conversation.
If we demand more from our entertainment, it can do more than distract us—it can drive us to dream.
AI: The Invisible Puppeteer
Artificial intelligence is the most powerful force shaping our generation. It curates our feeds, writes our stories, and even creates our art. But with that power comes a question: Whose values is AI reflecting—ours, or the system’s?
Generative AI is already influencing how we consume and create. From AI-generated influencers to automated content creation, technology is blurring the line between authentic creativity and algorithmic conformity.
But AI can also be a tool for revolution. It can amplify voices, connect communities, and democratize knowledge. The choice is ours: Will AI empower us, or pacify us?
Are we building a world that sparks curiosity—or suppresses it?
Are we raising a generation that dares to dream—or one that’s content to scroll trapped in its own little bubble full of apathy, tired from the constant economic crises, unemployment, and wars?
Let’s choose action. Let’s choose curiosity. Let’s choose revolution—not just in protest, but in thought, creativity, and compassion. The future depends on it.
