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Authenticity in the Algorithmic Age: A Heideggerian Critique of Digital Existence

Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis investigates the existential cost of the hyper-connected, “always-on” digital culture that defines contemporary life. Moving beyond conventional analyses of mental health and productivity, this work posits that constant connectivity fundamentally alters the structure of human existence, precipitating a series of profound existential crises. The research introduces a novel theoretical framework grounded in existential philosophy, particularly the work of Martin Heidegger, to analyze the multifaceted nature of this condition. The central argument is that the digital lifeworld engenders a state of Digital Thrownness, an extension of Heidegger’s concept of Geworfenheit, where individuals are involuntarily cast into a disorienting and demanding digital reality. This thesis explores six primary dimensions of the existential cost: Digital Thrownness: The condition of being involuntarily immersed in a digital world that shapes our being. Hyperconnected Alienation: The paradox whereby unprecedented levels of digital connection foster a deeper sense of existential isolation and a detachment from authentic selfhood. Temporal Displacement: The erosion of linear, reflective time in favor of a fragmented, instantaneous present, leading to a pervasive sense of temporal anxiety. Dopaminergic Dasein: The neurobiological hijacking of existential being-in-the-world, where the brain’s reward systems are conditioned by the variable reinforcement schedules of digital platforms, subverting the pursuit of authentic meaning. Algorithmic Authenticity Crisis: The subversion of authentic self-expression by algorithmic curation, which shapes desires, beliefs, and identity, leading to an inauthentic, externally-defined self. FOMO as Existential Anxiety: The re-conceptualization of the “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) not as a superficial social anxiety, but as a manifestation of a deeper existential dread related to the finitude of life and the overwhelming burden of infinite choice presented by the digital world. Through a synthesis of philosophical inquiry, critical theory, and analysis of empirical psychological and neuroscientific research, this thesis argues that the always-on condition is not merely a technological or social phenomenon, but an existential one. It concludes by examining potential pathways toward reclaiming an authentic mode of being in the digital age, emphasizing the need for a new digital literacy grounded in existential awareness and intentionality.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23066215
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214980903
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