The Platform Self: Reimagining Our Institutions

The concept of the 'platform self' describes how individuals have adopted a mentality that prioritizes personal desires and validation through the affirmation of others. This mindset leads to the perception of institutions and communities as platforms primarily designed to serve individual needs, rather than as formative entities that shape society. Consequently, various societal systems—politics, education, business, and community organizations—are struggling under the pressure of demands rooted in this self-centric perspective, highlighting a critical shift in the way we relate to and expect from collective institutions.