The Digital Dilemma: Navigating the Fine Line Between Liberation and Control

Exploring Our Relationship with Technology Through the Lens of Stoicism and Frank Herbert's Insightful Warning

“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.” ― Frank Herbert, Dune

Don't say Herbert wasn't onto something when he made this observation in Dune. Though published in 1965, the quote reflects our world today, where technology’s promise to free us sometimes feels like it’s holding us captive.

When we think about the internet and all of the great things that come with it — Google searches for the answer to anything you could ever want to know, connections with people across countries and time zones — it can easily seem like a win. But what if I told you that these benefits are actually a tool for control?

It's not just physical gadgets that bind us — it's the data-driven entities behind them. They use our information against us, keeping tabs on everything we do and influencing what we see with algorithms and surveillance.

From a Stoic viewpoint, this quote might remind you of the importance of taking charge of your internal state regarding technology. You don’t have control over power-hungry machines or those operating them. So why let them clutter your mind?

Instead, focus on what is within your reach — actions, responses and values — and take mindful steps to avoid becoming a robot yourself:

- Set boundaries around how often you use technology so that it works to your advantage instead.

- Be selective about what information you let into your brain.

- Aim for quality shareable content rather than endless low-value information.

- Spend more time building real-world relationships than digital ones.

Herbert reminds us that though tech has set us free in countless ways, chains are still attached — particularly if we cannot strike a balance.