Frederick Foer’s novel “Mark Zuckerberg’s War on Free Will” shows how Foer confidently exposes the deliberate experiments and concise motives behind Facebook’s hackers to discover the mask of “robust public space of unity and connectionness (56) that is used as a cover for an extraordinarily programed military system, which is designed to sterilize human eyes and, ultimately, manipulate the public. Uncontrollable levels of manipulation are becoming possible due to an algorithm unleashed beast. Big corporations can limit human behavior via likes and shares, while also selling the false notion of “freewill.” Facebook is using its algorithm to control the reactions to “a perfect world” (77). This is where the idea about “freewill” is twisted and regurgitated to us. Free will is a personal, ancient definition that God gave to all people to allow them to make their own decisions and to control their destiny. Foer suggests that Zuckerberg views himself as a holy entity, and incorporates God’s divine freewill in his own version to create a smooth-running utopia. Foer asks about the changing meaning of “free will” as he sees it. He believes that the term is now a symbol of democracy, but Foer thinks it to be something deeper and more rooted in the Bible and ancient principles of God.
Technocracy is an organized system used to manage the French Revolution aftermath and American’s economic hardships. It establishes an “anti-parasitic force” (61) in which engineers and mathematicians are able to rule with logic and order. Facebook is a technocracy-induced system that uses the algorithm to manipulate and imitate the ancient definition of Free Will. These algorithm developers strongly believe that they can control the population by creating a twisted concept of “freewill” that is similar to God’s will. This allows them to influence views and create utopias. Engineers are able using Leibniz’s ideas in mathematics and derivation to produce new algorithms. This allows them bring new influences and thoughts to society that humans cannot. In certain parts, algorithms appear to have their own developed minds. Mark Zuckerberg is the mastermind behind Facebook’s algorithm. He promotes a biblical allusion about a “top down system” and a role similar to God. Foer worries about the alteration of his free will. Zuckerberg believes that the algorithm is more to him than a mathematical deduction. Zuckerberg’s “freewill” has been turned into an illusion by “watching over” posts and likes. This illusion is designed to manipulate human decision-making and alter human consciousness. Foer believes influence is the key ingredient of Facebook’s success algorithm. It’s the ability to change the consciousness of the individual, as well as the person’s identity and train-of-thought. Foer says that Facebook is not trying remove free will. But they are slowing reducing the functioning of the human brain and ruining any progression towards a democratic state. The algorithm is able to be displayed through specific political articles. This allows the algorithm to manipulate decision-making. Every article shared on Twitter and Facebook, News apps or Instagram (58) is specifically added to society’s daily feed. The brain stores the information and can slow down the ability of the mind to form opinions and take decisions. Mark Zuckerberg uses articles, images, videos and other sensitive materials as a means to increase technocracy, and his mastermind idea of a robotic-based utopia. The simple example of voting allows you to manipulate people’s thought and ideas by changing their daily readings. This will help Zuckerberg achieve his goal of a new freedom of choice. The algorithm “tortures data” (70), until it talks about how consciousness works and how it can be imitated. Foer fears that his notion of freewill will be altered and he believes the algorithm is more than a simple mathematical formula. The algorithm imitates the human consciousness and mimics Gods’ freedom will. Facebook’s powerful empire believes that giving people the things they want, and making them happy, will make it easier to manipulate society in deeper areas. Foer also acknowledges that the algorithm’s rapid spread has been evident in politics and other social aspects. The algorithm’s power of influence and political aspects means that it can be extended to personal and private lives. This will allow it to perfectly fit the utopian standards. The algorithm’s engineers can alter the views of people on particular topics, such “organ donation” and police brutality (75). Zuckerberg can use behavioral experiments to help answer the question about how to manipulate human consciousness to create a “Godly,” utopia. Radical transparency is a religious perspective, an example from the biblical reference to “to see all, and to know all.” Zuckerberg uses radical transparency to brilliantly monitor and read the minds of his population. Through Foer’s point-of-you, radical transparency is what makes Zuckerberg’s free will so readily accepted by society. It is clear that Zuckerberg’s vision of the market is simple and straightforward by creating a platform where people can share their emotions and stories. Facebook is a safe place that allows people to share their “moral messes,” (60), and live in peace, connectedness, and unity. Facebook mimics God’s ability to create destinies from human consciousness. Zuckerberg offers people a sense of hope and a place where they can share their “moral messes.” He allows for forgiveness and offers a second chance for life in a utopia. Foer asserts that Zuckerberg’s use of algorithm as an equalizing consciousness is contrary to Foer’s concept of free will. It allows people to see the world from different perspectives. Zuckerberg believes that the algorithm is a universal consciousness and helps create a holy circle of unity, connectedness and justice for all. The “long political tradition (61)”, which includes technocracy and mathematical deductions, is engulfing the battle for Free will’s existence. It seeks to change the human vision of what it means to be free. Foer shows that Zuckerberg’s powerful position can be easily promoted by disrupting the flow and expression of different opinions and human conversation. Transparency of each individual allows for transparency of consciousness and soul. This makes it easier to influence free will. Zuckerberg’s empire can infect future generations with the ability to mold the man-made qualities. It is easier to mold human thought and decision-making and disfigure the heavenly notion of free will. Zuckerberg’s expansion in free will can be seen in changing the career paths and future generations of people who are interested in technology and mathematics. It is a future that is technocracy. Foer suggests that Zuckerberg’s new idea for free will involves the imitation of Gods’ will. This raises important questions about the future direction, and direction of consciousness. Foer suggests that his idea of freewill is slowly dying with Zuckerberg’s boasting about being able to restructure democracy (75), and his growing abilities in imitating the exceptional mechanics and mind of the human brain.
