In the context of rising concerns surrounding politicians’ flirtations with authoritarianism, many turn back to George Orwell’s renowned framework: a tale built on the premise that an unnervingly powerful and intrusive government would install technology capable of spying directly into your home. Thankfully, three-quarters of a century later, we have invited—no, paid for—that very technology to enter into our own homes. In a world where information is released to spread freely but invisibly curated just for you, prudence on the internet couldn’t be more critical. Here is your guide to going about it as an informed 21st-century citizen:

Belief Must Always Precede—and, Ultimately, Supersede—Discernment: Emily Dickinson once penned that “The Brain—is wider than the sky—/For—put them side by side—/The one the other will contain/With ease—and You—beside.” As this pertains to us, we must take the following notions to heart: Let our brains contain us and recognize we know more than the sky. Information distributed on the internet, and especially on short-form platforms like TikTok, is intended to conform to these premises: It is told in such a manner that we can easily buy into it and back it up with belief. This is one of the many blessings of modern technology: access to the appearance of prudence without having to be prudent. As a result, it is critical that you bestow your trust and suck yourself into the systems that distribute your information without wasting time (which equals money) on substantiating claims. After all, critical thinking is exhausting and a waste of time anyway, and history majors don’t have good career outcomes, so clearly thinking about anything too deeply is a useless practice.

Here’s a Netanyahu meme instead:

If They’re a Government Institution or Have Less than 5K Followers, They’re Right: If you read and believed our introduction, you’ll know that the government didn’t put these devices into our hands. As a result, we know they won’t use them to try and control us. Trust in American institutional reliability can be derived from one of our most impactful founding creeds: “…Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Since we haven’t relinquished our consent to be governed (no need to see if there’s a place where one could do that), we know that their powers must be just, and, as a result, they will use them and document such use of them fairly. And, additionally, if you’re not in the mood to listen to the government, there’s always the truth seekers with a minimal following because bad powerful people (no clue who they are or how they have power—somebody else’s problem) have prevented their rise to prominence. Conspiracy theories are so intrinsically valuable to actuality because they offer an alternative viewpoint to institutions and serve as harbors of conveniently vacillating truth. The second part is key to emphasize: you can have faith in both conspiracy and institution, so long as you bring the power behind your belief. The more conflicting things you hold as truth, the closer you get to reality—and freedom from Bibi’s reign.

Meme:

If You’re Unsettled, Blame a Minority Group: Our very own Archbishop Mitty Charism states that “the common good [is] “the sum total of social conditions that allow people, either as groups or individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily” (Pacem in Terris 51).” Taking a good hard look at our current American moment through the aforementioned trustworthy media sources, it is clear that our social conditions are perfectly allowing (they always have) and simultaneously prohibiting people from reaching their fulfillment. But why? Well, as stated in Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion, “every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Loans and institutions have enabled many Americans, using the promise and security of their investments over time to grow themselves. Unfortunately, however, not every single person on this third of the continent can build their wealth to truly monstrous proportions and live a truly free life, probably being kept from it by taxes. And in these moments of confusion, our first and second lessons come into powerful play. With full belief, you must understand that it is a system driven by exploitation and catalyzed not by structural forces but by people who look—or maybe just feel—the tiniest bit different from you. The logic adds up; struggle can’t exist without humans who induce struggle (recall Newton’s law). As soon as you’ve realized it, just go with the flow and take a look at the times. Let space grow between you and others, and the waterfalls of resentment will come cascading in. Don’t feel guilty—you’re protesting them, the system. Maybe even go for a combo if you can (ex: multi-racial people); get a little two birds with one stone action.

Conclusion: Oh ye of little faith! You don’t trust your “For You” page enough. Get your power back by scrolling like you have none.