The rise towards tehcno-feudalism

What the Heck is Techno-Feudalism and Why Are We All Just Vibing Into It?

Okay, hear me out: Feudalism. You know, the system from the medieval times where lords owned land, peasants worked it, and everyone prayed they wouldn’t die from the plague? (Spoiler: they did). Well, apparently, history looked at that model and said, “What if… we did that again, but make it techy?” That's basically techno-feudalism. Yes, folks, the dark ages are back, but now with Wi-Fi and a subscription to Spotify Premium.

So, What Is Techno-Feudalism?

Great question! In basic terms, techno-feudalism is the idea that we’re sliding into a system where a small number of tech elites (think Bezos, Musk, Zuckerberg, and their ilk) own and control not just land but data, platforms, and, honestly, our attention spans. Instead of working the fields, we’re out here generating content, feeding algorithms, and clicking “I agree” on 67-page terms of service agreements without even blinking.

Like feudal lords, these tech overlords provide us access to their platforms, which we’re increasingly dependent on for jobs, social interaction, and even identity. But unlike feudal lords, they’re not giving us free grain. Which is insane and totalitarian and just utterly destructive for your privacy!! Like, hello, I can’t even charge my phone without giving you my data???

Why Now?

Because it’s kind of happening. Here are some red flags:

Platform Dominance: Big Tech controls huge chunks of the economy. Amazon basically owns e-commerce, Google has a monopoly on “the answer to everything” (except for what we’re doing with our lives), and Facebook... oh wait, I mean Meta, owns our grandparents’ conspiracy theories and our DMs.

Data is the New Land: In the feudal system, lords owned land. Today, corporations own our data. They monetize it, sell it, and use it to trap us in endless feedback loops of targeted ads. You wanted to browse sneakers? Congratulations, now you’re in a lifelong relationship with Nike pop-ups.

Gig Economy Peasantry: Apps like Uber, DoorDash, and TaskRabbit make it super clear who’s in charge. (Hint: Not you, the driver delivering chicken nuggets at 2 a.m.) They’ve created a system where workers shoulder all the risk (no benefits, no job security) while the platforms rake in the big bucks.

Attention Economy: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube—they don’t just want your money; they want your time. And we’re giving it to them. Every like, comment, and scroll is adding to their empire while we, the peasants, are left wondering why we haven’t texted our friends back in three weeks.

Why Should You Care?

Because this isn’t just a “theory”; it’s real life. The line between what we need to live—jobs, information, social connections—and what Big Tech controls is blurring faster than a Snapchat filter. We’re not just “users”; we’re unpaid laborers building the platforms that dominate us. Which is… not the vibe.

And it’s not just about individuals. On a global scale, techno-feudalism is exacerbating inequality. Countries without access to these platforms—or the ability to control their own data—are at the mercy of nations and corporations that do. It’s creating a digital divide that’s as medieval as it sounds.

Look, I’m not saying you need to delete your socials, throw your phone in a lake, and live off the grid (Unless that’s your thing, in which case, respect). But we do need to be aware of what’s happening. Techno-feudalism isn’t some far-off dystopia; it’s creeping into our lives every time we trade our privacy for convenience, and Trump's victory proves it.

But hey, at least you’re self-aware about it, right? Which is, like, peak representation of our gen z generation.

See ya and remember - history rhymes.