Are We Being Watched?

Am I being watched right now? Today, in a digital world, the very term of privacy seems like wishful thinking. With the development of social media and smart devices, we find ourselves pretty much living in the world shown in The Truman Show. Starring Jim Carrey, the movie was released in 1998, and tells the story of a man called Truman Burbank whose life is created for a reality TV series; his whole life is being broadcast to millions, yet he doesn't even know. As Truman discovers the truth, the film explores themes of control, surveillance, and the quest for personal freedom—issues that are more relevant today than ever.

Are we truly free to make our own choices, or are our actions influenced by the knowledge that someone is always observing?

Not most of us star in a reality TV program, but many of us know that every movement we make is watched by someone, be it a corporation, a data-tracking service, or even the guy sitting next to us on the bus. Adding to this, our use of social media has turned into a kind of voluntary surveillance. We are sharing personal details, locations, and details of day-to-day activities with a large audience without much consideration for its implications. This makes us feel as if we are living in a reality show all of our own making, where one has crossed the boundaries between the private and the public by constantly sharing. We share our lives online, creating the image of non-stop happiness and fun, being afraid of what others think about us. 

How does it feel to be monitored all the time?

It's a feeling when I am using my phone or my laptop I want to cover my camera. I believe it's the same as Truman begins to feel the walls closing in when he discovers his life is being watched on TV. We can feel trapped by the awareness of being constantly watched. This can lead to paranoia, causing us to question the authenticity of our experiences and the true motives of our actions influenced by the knowledge that someone is always observing.

However, I find that there is a kind of hope like The Truman Show gives. In the most powerful act, Truman escapes from his fake world once he realizes the controls stack against him. His story should serve as a powerful reminder that in the age of total surveillance, we are still free to define our destinies.

The Truman Show is a film that stands in for the whole picture making itself a timeless and eternal declaration of surveillance over our lives. It shows us how living under constant surveillance may result in feeling suffocated, and makes us think about what we could do to reclaim our freedom when we now live in a world that is starting to feel like Truman's dome.

References:

Weir, P. (Director). (1998). The Truman Show [Film]. Paramount Pictures.