The map ONLINE CULTURE WARS is an overlay of hundreds of politicized memes, along with influential political figures and symbols. It is designed as a discussion starter, intended to visualize and contextualize the ongoing online culture wars, and some of the main political references, actors, and influencers. From Twitter to Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Gab, or 4chan, one of the by-products of online culture wars is the over-politicization of seemingly mundane topics, products, practices, and cultural elements. In recent years, online cultures have been subjected to a growing polarization, politicization, and radicalization, influenced by numerous actors, and magnified by the very features of
ubiquitous social networks. This cartography offers a representation of online ideological and political frictions, integrated into the visual system of a Political Compass meme.
Ubiquitous social networks gave rise to new types of practices, new forms of expression, and new means for collective organization of protest and discord. In this context, the manipulation of public opinion over social media platforms has emerged as a critical threat to public life. The video essay
entitled THE PERSUADABLES focuses on the political instrumentalization of the tools, techniques, and infrastructures of the web, with a particular attention to the social media influence ecosystem, and online manipulation of opinion. It exposes some practices broadly used for online propaganda, as well as creative responses that they triggered in the civil society.