The intersection of dossierveillance with social media propaganda

Abstract

This theoretical analysis examines the complex intersection of social media propaganda and dossierveillance in the 21st century, highlighting how platformed digital environments shape perception, influence behavior, and condition public engagement. Dossierveillance refers to a form of self-surveillance grounded in the belief that individuals are continuously documented, categorized, and evaluated by both institutional actors and peers. The paper begins by detailing the mechanics of social media propaganda, emphasizing emotional manipulation, identity signaling, and algorithmic amplification, while also considering the roles of filter bubbles, echo chambers, and platform affordances. It then explores how dossierveillance intensifies self-monitoring, strategic engagement, and compliance, often occurring subtly without overt coercion. The analysis distinguishes between centralized and lateral surveillance, peer-to-peer monitoring, and the interaction between human and algorithmic oversight, showing that user experiences are heterogeneous: surveillance can simultaneously empower, intimidate, or provoke outspoken critique. Three case-based sections – examining whistleblower responses, digital archival weaponization, and algorithmically amplified influence – illustrate the erosion of agency, the shaping of public discourse, and the production of manufactured consensus. Ultimately, the work demonstrates how the convergence of propaganda and surveillance in digital spaces fosters a climate of fear, conformity, and affectively mediated social control.