A version of this essay appears in my essay collection, Cloud Pieces.

Long ago, the Roman Senate was the epicenter of imperial governance. It was a swirling vortex of ambition and intrigue. Clad in the trappings of their station, these men of power engaged in ceaseless political maneuvering. Their voices echoed through the Senatorial chambers, booming like the clarion calls of war trumpets.

Today, echoes of that tumultuous past resound in the digital agora of social media. On these platforms, a similar brand of capricious pseudo-direct-democracy holds sway. The mob mentality prevalent on these web portals now threatens the stability and unity of our modern world.

During the glory days of ancient Rome, the primary factor in Senators’ decisions was what came to be called acclamatio. This Latin word means “an eager expression of approval.” In politics, it came to mean the public expression of pleasure or displeasure for measures by way of loud acclamations. 

Within such a feverish political climate as the Roman Empire, the Senatorial acclamations were a potent weapon. They could bestow legitimacy onto those they saw fit. With a single, collective cry, the fickle winds of popular opinion could change direction. Acclamations could propel some towards glory while casting others forever into the shadows or condemning them to cruel fates. Unbeknownst to these Senators, their acclamations would shape future history in ways they couldn’t imagine.

Social media platforms have become the modern colosseum in which the masses gather to witness spectacles of public opinion. Quarrelsome hordes of digital voices shout across the digital maelstrom, made up of information-hungry souls waiting to make their own opinion known. Social media feeds are filled with melodious songs of the righteous mingling with the discordant cries of the disaffected. Each new status update is a gladiatorial thrust, each ‘like’ a laurel wreath, and each ‘share’ a ripple propagating through this vast, interconnected network of globalized humanity.

The rising mob mentality of social media is a curious doppelgänger to the acclamatio of the Roman Senate. But it has mutated and been magnified by the vast reach and speed of the digital realm. As in ancient times, this new form of pseudo-direct-democracy has gained the dangerous power to elevate or eviscerate both individuals and entire groups of people on a whim.

Once confined to the marble and frescoed chambers of Senate, the dangerous and unruly collective voice of acclamatio now wields a pervasive, insidious influence on our lives across the globe. This virtual Senate, however, is far more unruly and unfair than its Roman counterpart. The relative anonymity of the digital world emboldens individuals to embrace their basest instincts. This allows the loudest voices to unleash a torrent of invective and vitriol that can drown out the most cogent, reasonable arguments.

This tempest of voices is further amplified by algorithms that stoke the flames of outrage and polarize opinions. This is a purposeful attempt by corporate money-making machines to reward impulsiveness and punish nuance. There’s also a seductive allure to this new form of populist democracy: the intoxicating promise of having one’s voice heard by millions. Even the remotely possible chance to shift the course of history with a single tweet or post is a siren song that few can resist.

So, by participating at all in modern social networking we plunge headlong into the fray only to be likely swallowed by the maw of ignorance. Unless we’re driven by a primal yearning for validation and influence, we profit almost nothing by taking part. This is why I decided to let go of the supposed necessity of being active on these social networks. All they were doing was wasting my time. Most likely, they’re only wasting yours, as well.

While navigating the perilous waters of this digital age, we must heed the lessons of history. The tumultuous acclamatio of the Roman Senate should serve to remind us of the power and danger inherent in decision-making swayed by loud, angry mobs. We must be ever vigilant against the capriciousness of such mobs. Otherwise, we may well find ourselves in the thrall of a pseudo-direct-democracy threatening to tear apart the very fabric of our society. So, we must temper our own passions and embrace reason as our guide. Only then can we hope to chart a course for ourselves that leads us towards the shores of unity and enlightenment.

~ Artemis Desertsong