The Modern-Day Panopticon.

The evolution of the pan optical structure into social media and what it has lead to.

The major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power’ (Foucault, Discipline and Punish, 201).

A panopticon is a penal structure of circular design in which prisoners are placed in cells along the circumference, and the guardroom is in the centre of the structure. The key elements to the structure are that the prisoners cannot communicate with each other from their cells, they can see the guardroom and they are always observable by the guards, and yet they cannot see the guards in the guardroom. The structure was first conceived by Jeremy Bentham in 1787 as a way to provide security in prisons at a limited cost. The panopticon is a mere building where one can see everyone, but everyone cannot see the one. In this layout, the prisoners are always visible to the guard, but the prisoners cannot see the guard or even verify that he is there at all. So there is always a possibility that the prisoners are being watched.

The possibility of being watched instils behaviour similar to if one actually were being watched all the time. This results in the awareness of the presence of authority at all times- even though it might or might not be there. Eventually, The authority changes from being a limited physical entity to being an internalized premonition.

As a metaphor, the panopticon has come to be known as a way to refer to surveillance in a disciplinarian society, following the ideas of French philosopher Michel Foucault. Foucault wrote extensively about how the use of power and further that of surveillance resulted in the creation of obedience. He expands the idea of the panopticon into a symbol of social control that extends into everyday life for all citizens, not just those in the prison system. He explains how all forms of social structures be it schools, army, hospitals have evolved to resemble Bentham’s panopticon.

But in our modern-day digital age, what is the panopticon?

Many argue that in our digitalised world, social media has evolved to be a panopticon, or maybe even a reverse one. Online consciousness revolves around two basic phenomenons- to watch and to be watched. In a panopticon, one fears they are being watched, but online on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok etc. one hopes they are being watched. People are posting and publishing for other people to see- creating a stage with you in the middle and hoping all eyes are on you. Thus constructing a reverse panoptical structure- the opposite of what Bentham made.

The idea of self-policing, as Bentham had intended is still maintained. In a situation where one is hoping to be watched and seen, they would obviously display their most optimum, flawless versions - thus the self-policing. With all and sundry indulging in social media, people have sensibly realised that this is a very big audition they are part of, and being discovered will not be as easy. This had led to our overall internet experience becoming somewhat hostile. Social media, which started as a way to unwind and connect is turning into a taxing environment. Users’ share targeted content that they think will appeal to whoever might be watching. Interactions have become calculated and strategic- reciprocating follows and interactions solely for the sake of increasing ‘reach’ are unequivocal cries of - “I want to be seen”. Ultimately this takes away from the joy of activity as well as genuine and authentic human interactions.

All this just so maybe, someone on the other side of the panopticon might just shine the spotlight on you.