Not ignoring, but focusing on the problem..

We are becoming digital. New technologies are developing as extensions of the human brain. Consequently, the human brain has already begun to expand into new universes with the possibilities created by these technologies. Almost every area in which our lives are shaped is also forming a parallel field. Alongside the universe full of secrets in which we live, a virtual universe has now begun to form. While the secrets of the first one have not yet been solved, we have found ourselves in a new universe full of unknowns. 

Then there is the concept of reality, on which a consensus can never be reached. It is a huge question that thinkers have been pondering since Ancient Greece, but one that still remains unresolved: what reality is. And then, virtual reality was added to it. Now, try to make sense of that if you can. 

It has been asked for thousands of years: what is reality, how is it constructed, who decides, who shapes, who determines, who manages it, etc., and with mass media such as novels, poetry, painting, newspapers, radio, television, cinema, etc., things have become even more confused. For some, for example, the fictional reality of a novel is more real than reality itself; for others, cinema explains us to ourselves better than we do. For others, tracing the details within nature or life is much easier with a painter's brush. Therefore, those who argue that fiction should be accepted as a kind of turbine of reality are on one side, while those who argue that there is no need to attribute any meaning to fiction beyond the imagination of its creator are on the other. 

For some, fiction has also been turned into a field that is instrumentalized over time by some to steer and manage the actual reality by tearing it away from its own real foundation. According to this thesis, developed by Frankfurt School thinkers around the concept of the "culture industry," the fictional world of art and media has become an effective tool for manipulating the masses within the power relations of the capitalist system. Therefore, the relationship between actual reality and fiction, or in other words, parallel reality, has gained functionality in the field of power-oriented hegemony.

With art, literature, and media, we are now faced with the phenomenon of virtual reality. Virtual reality, which is integrated into the reality of daily life especially through social media, allows humanity to open up to new horizons for some, while it is seen as a field of fear and anxiety for others. The situation is even more complex than before. While discussions in intellectual circles about what actual reality and fictional reality are have not yet reached a conclusion, the issue of virtual reality is now on the agenda.

Which one is really real, and which one is not? To what extent is the reality we are in and living in practice our own reality? Do we really decide on everything we do in life, and are we happy because of these actions? Is there a real overlap between what we want to live and what we are living? What constitutes the subject of our conversations in daily life? For instance, how much of these conversations is about our own real lives? When we get together with our friends at a cafe, what do we talk about, what do we ponder, what do we discuss? For example, to what extent does the subject of football take place in our conversations, or how much do the fictional life stories of the characters in a TV series we watch permeate our daily conversations? When we attempt to answer all these questions, the situation does not seem very bright. It seems that while our relationship with the reality we live in is at a minimal level, the fictional reality presented to us constitutes our main interest. 

The virtual universe of digital has made things even more complicated. Virtual reality presented through social media has now begun to constitute a significant portion of our daily conversations. Moreover, we have begun to perceive the virtual reality field of social media as the actual reality. Because we think that field is more real than fictional reality, we tend to relate it to our real lives much more easily. We often mistake the virtual reality field of social media for our own reality, focus on it, and reshape our own reality by attaching the narratives there to our own reality. 

However, the virtual reality field of social media is much more strategic, much more political, and much more ideological than the fictional reality field of art, literature, and traditional media. In the reality field of social media, it is much easier to exercise hegemony and manipulate the masses. The participation of real people in life in this virtual universe makes it easier to manipulate the masses, and a process of manipulation can take place without question or inquiry. 

Precisely for this reason, it is necessary not to run away or ignore it, but on the contrary, to take an interest, question, think, and create awareness. Whether we want it or not, technological advancements are continuing to gain speed. Whether we want it or not, all dimensions of life are affected by this trend. In that case, efforts must be made so that the impact, at least, brings benefit instead of harm to the course of humanity. It is in vain to expect this effort from those who own the technology or those who direct the functioning of the technology. This effort must be shown by intellectuals. It is of serious importance for academic circles to take responsibility and direct the process for the benefit of humanity. It is important to analyze who is in control and supervision of the content production process on social media, and accordingly, to raise awareness in society and create awareness among the masses. For this, communication academics, in particular, need to show sensitivity to this issue and develop awareness regarding the process through scientific research. Creating consciousness and developing sensitivity throughout society is important in terms of directing developments for the benefit of humanity.