In his book “Meganets,” David Auerbach argues that no one is truly in charge of our online behavior. He defines a “meganet” as a big blob of mortal and computing power, a “human-machine behemoth” controlled by no one. While the internet may be like the fictional Bruce Banner, meganets are like the Incredible Hulk, snarling and uncontainable.
Auerbach is skeptical of the competing concept of the metaverse, calling it “terribly vague.” He argues that we already socialize, play, and work in an all-too-immersive online world. This made me feel deeply queasy about the amount of time I spend on social media platforms like Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter.
Auerbach also delves into cryptocurrency, which may leave some readers feeling at sea. He quotes literature and philosophy, including Kenneth Burke, George Trow, and Shakespeare. He even mentions waiting for more than five years for Amazon to notify him of an available copy of Grigol Robakidze’s novel “The Snake’s Skin,” which he believes is a tombstone for a book that never existed.
While “Meganets” is a deeply interesting book, it may be hard to access for the average user. Auerbach discusses failed experiments like Google+ and Aadhaar, India’s national identification program. He also includes a “Data Abundance” chart that shows how many messages are sent and photos shared on various platforms each minute.
However, some parts of the book may leave readers feeling lost. Auerbach describes a virtual pandemic called Corrupted Blood that spread through the video game World of Warcraft in 2005. He argues that “the distance between Corrupted Blood and a global financial meltdown is smaller than you think.” This may be hard to follow for some readers.
Overall, Auerbach proposes that if Big Brother can’t be stopped, we should focus on throwing sand in his eyes rather than futilely trying to kill him. In other words, we should take control of our online behavior by unplugging or learning how to do nothing. While this may be easier said than done, it’s worth considering in our fast-changing times.
