The World is Folded
In “The World is Flat,” Thomas Friedman argues that technology and globalization have levelled the global playing field, making it easier for countries, companies, and individuals to compete and collaborate. While Friedman’s observations are profound and — in part — accurate, they overlook our global landscape's multidimensional, complex nature. 20 years later, I want to argue that the world is not flat — it’s “folded,” with complex layers and nuances exacerbated by technologies meant to simplify and unify it.
Technology as a Diverging Force
Online communities appear as melting pots of global perspectives. But we still tend — as individuals — to gravitate toward like-minded people, creating digital echo chambers. Reddit communities are highly specialized, with a laser focus on a particular political ideology, hobby, or cultural interest. While this allows for a deepening of specialized knowledge and passion, it simultaneously accentuates divisions and differences, strengthening the bonds within certain communities while weakening the ties that hold the global tapestry together.
These communities provide new opportunities for wealth creation; but the opportunities are not distributed evenly across the globe. There is an increasing divide between technologically advanced nations and those lacking infrastructure or education.
The advent of quantum, blockchain, artificial intelligence and automation disproportionately benefits wealthy countries capable of funding these innovations, widening the global wealth gap. The world is becoming more layered, with different strata representing vastly different levels of technological capability and economic access.
Political Consequences
While globalization and the Internet were supposed to herald an age of internationalism, we are witnessing a resurgence of nationalism, often fueled by the very technology expected to bring us closer. Authoritarian regimes and nationalist movements have adeptly used social media platforms to disseminate propaganda, control narratives, and foster a sense of identity distinct from the global community. The “America First” policy in the United States or Brexit in the United Kingdom exemplifies how technology can be leveraged to reinforce national boundaries and sentiments.
The era of the globally “flat” internet is being challenged by the rise of data sovereignty, where countries like China, Russia, and even the European Union are creating their own rules about how data should be collected, stored, and used within their borders. This manifests the nuanced, multifaceted approach different regions take toward technology based on their legal traditions, cultural values, and strategic interests. These diverging policies create layers of complexity, folding in on each other again and again.
These layers emerge as social media trends — that are rarely received uniformly. Memes go viral across countries but are adapted locally to reflect cultural nuances and societal norms. Seemingly globally accessible trends and moments are locally customized, perpetuating regional idiosyncrasies.
And in a darker sense, social media perpetuates the growth of “filter bubbles,” where algorithms show users content that aligns with their beliefs and preferences, far from creating a homogenous global culture, these algorithms reinforce existing divisions. Whether politics, religion, or food preferences, social media becomes the great divider rather than any unifying force.
But is a “Folded World” a Bad Thing?
Preserving our differences rather than becoming homogenised should be a universal goal, and tech platforms can play a role in preserving local culture and language. A case in point is the revival of indigenous languages through apps and online platforms. In New Zealand, for example, the Maori language has been resurgent through YouTube tutorials, apps, and online courses. Rather than erasing cultural identities, technology, in this case, amplifies them, allowing these small communities to maintain a distinct cultural footprint in a globalized world.
Technology has offered a lifeline to local economies, allowing artisans and small businesses to showcase their products to a global audience. Tools from Etsy to Zora enable craftspeople from isolated regions to sell their unique goods worldwide. While this brings a piece of local culture to the global market, it also reinforces the importance and viability of local economies, making them more resilient in the face of globalization.
So, is a “Folded World” a Bad Thing™️? Not necessarily. I’d think of it more as an inescapable reality. We are far enough removed from the days of digital idealism to recognise that new tech will not be magic wand that casts spells of equality and harmony. We have reached an era of pragmatism, where we can recognise the good and the bad of the digital earth.
While Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat” provides an insightful look into the globalizing forces at play, it lacks the nuance and context we’ve built up — through trial and error — of the world’s intricate complexities. Far from nullifying Friedman’s observations, a folded perspective enriches them, offering a more complete understanding of our contemporary global landscape.
Technologies expected to flatten the Earth have folded it, creating new layers and complexities that we cannot ignore. As much as technology unites us, it underscores our divisions, accentuates our local identities, and widens economic and political power gaps. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, and individuals must recognize these “folds” to intelligently navigate our increasingly interconnected yet paradoxically divided world.
In an era of shifting, emerging tech, the Earth is not flat — but profoundly folded. And in these folds are complex, layered stories of cultures, economies, and societies that make our world diverse and intricate.
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