For the first time in history, almost anyone can command a vast audience. Fame and influence, once gatekept by media and political elites, are now within reach of anyone with a phone. From grassroots campaigners like Zohran Mamdani to influencers making millions from their bedrooms, ordinary people appear to be winning. In the US, 57% of Gen Z aspire to be influencers; in India, the number of paid influencers surged 322% between 2020 and 2025; and China's Douyin has a similarly vast creator economy. But critics warn of huge psychological costs. When everyone is always on stage, life becomes a performance. Deloitte reports that young people feel under constant surveillance from employers and peers. In India, the death of influencer Misha Aggarwal sparked calls for platforms to downplay engagement metrics, amid fears they fuel anxiety and depression.

Should platforms be forced to make themselves safer, even if this makes it harder for users to build vast audiences? Should governments intervene, or even nationalize social media? Or would this silence ordinary voices and hand power back to a narrow elite?