ReThinking The dangers of identity capitalism with Jia Tolentino
21 snips
May 20, 2025 
Jia Tolentino, a prominent writer at The New Yorker and author of "Trick Mirror," dives deep into the perils of identity capitalism. She discusses how our online personas have become commodified, leading to unique pressures to present ourselves as marketable products. The conversation explores the psychological toll of self-surveillance and the impact on authenticity in the age of social media. Tolentino argues for a reevaluation of self-worth beyond personal branding, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and community engagement.
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Personal Brand vs Being Known
- Personal branding is tied to market capture and commodified selfhood in the digital economy.
- Social media turns our deepest selves into mined commodities for profit, unlike simply being known for something.
Early Reality TV Experience
- Jia Tolentino participated in a teen reality TV show in Puerto Rico as an escape from a restrictive environment.
- This early experience lacked the constant self-surveillance now common with social media personal branding.
Inescapability of Commodified Selfhood
- Social media platforms compel users to treat their personality as a market commodity.
- The lack of collective frameworks pushes individuals into self-exploitation for economic survival.
