Part 4/15:
The discussion pinpoints 2007, with the release of the iPhone, as a pivotal moment. The advent of smartphones and social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and later TikTok accelerated the fragmentation of culture. We moved from a monoculture, where mass media dictated shared themes and stories, to a multi-polarized, algorithm-driven landscape where every niche and subgroup exists in silos.
The transition crippled mainstream culture, replacing gatekeepers—radio DJs, theater owners, magazine editors—with global algorithms that cater to individual preferences, dismantling consensus on what constitutes "cultural relevance."