CHAPTER 13
22.11.25 Page 237 Instrumentarianism as a New Form of Power — Explained Simply 1. Big Other — The Digital Puppet Master What the passage says: Modern digital technology—our phones, apps, platforms, and connected devices—works like a giant system that watches, measures, and influences human behavior. The author calls this system “Big Other.” Simple explanation: Big Other is like an invisible puppeteer made of data and algorithms. It observes everything people do online, predicts what they might do next, and then uses that information to push them toward certain actions. Practical examples: Your smartphone tracks where you go, what you click, how long you look at something. TikTok or YouTube decide which videos to show you next to keep you watching as long as possible. Online stores show personalized ads designed to make you buy things you didn’t plan to buy. Reasoned conclusion: Big Other isn’t a person—it’s a system. But it behaves like a controller, shaping choices with...