Is the Age of Empire Over?
“language has always been the companion of empire, and it followed it with such a way that together they began, they grew, and they flourished, and afterwards, together, they both fell."
-Nebrija, Antonio de. Gramatica castellana. 1942.
I am increasingly drawn to the notion that we will never experience the sheer power of an institution like the Roman Empire again. Not due to a lack of military funding or resources, but because modern society lacks the collective will and capacity to mobilize on a large scale. People have become so addicted to dopamine hits from short-term media that when their favorite supply of clipped videos (like TikTok) was banished, they flocked to other platforms in a desperate search for similar entertainment, even when those platforms are in entirely different languages and contexts. And when people do communicate it is shortened, a string of letters meant to communicate many words, or brain rotted language which lacks sophistication. The people are desperate, the people hunger—but not for an empire. They hunger for entertainment.
The Power of the Roman Empire
Julius Caesar didn’t have an iPhone to scroll through reels, and if he had, it’s hard to imagine him spending his time watching people attempt mukbang challenges. The Roman Empire was a dominant power, built on unparalleled military strategy, a professional army, an intricate political system, advanced infrastructure, and an ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
The Roman empire was multilingual but Latin was the primary language. The linguistic complexity of the Roman Empire can in part be attributed to its structure but also its cultural and social diversity. Classical Latin was sophisticated and the many dialects added complexity to everyday life. But Rome’s collective power stemmed from its citizens’ willingness to put their lives on the line for a common cause—an allegiance to the empire that transcended individual interests.
Roman society was communally focused, with the res publica (public thing) at the core of its identity. This shared sense of purpose was not abstract; it manifested in a practical way through systems like the plebiscites—a direct vote by the plebs that could alter the constitution. Civic virtue was central to Roman life, as the common good was prioritized over individual desires. In the Roman worldview, moral principles like honor, duty, and justice were integral to society’s well-being. Without common good, it was believed that the empire would crumble. It is often said that societies flourish when they have a clear, collective purpose. So, the question arises: in a world where civic virtue is increasingly overlooked, can we still achieve the collective strength that the Roman Empire once wielded?
The Modern Shift in Collective Purpose
As I reflect on this shift, it’s crucial to frame the discussion within an American context, as this is where I am most familiar with societal trends. The media we consume plays a pivotal role in shaping our attention, our desires, and, by extension, our collective purpose. Today, platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide an endless stream of short-form content that offers immediate gratification. Reels and videos reward us with dopamine hits, reinforcing our addictive desire for the next quick laugh, meme, or viral moment, which ultimately leaves us unable to focus on larger, more meaningful goals.
Take, for instance, the banning of TikTok in the United States. TikTok had become a dominant platform, with millions of users dedicating hours to scrolling through endless short videos. Its algorithm was finely tuned to keep users hooked, delivering precisely what they wanted—when they wanted it. Yet, when the app was threatened with a ban due to national security concerns, many Americans rushed to an alternative: RedNote, a foreign-run app in a language most Americans don’t understand, least of all the complex Chinese characters. The irony is stark. Many of these same people struggle to learn even basic Spanish in school, yet they eagerly engage with an entirely foreign system in order to replace their entertainment source. This shift underscores the fact that people’s need for entertainment often outweighs their willingness to confront deeper societal issues or to learn something substantial.
The Cultural Hunger for Entertainment, Not Power
The hunger for land, power, and conquest that once fueled empires has been replaced with a different kind of hunger—one for entertainment and instant gratification. Unlike the Roman plebs who once had power to influence the empire through their votes, the power now lies with media companies that control social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The culture of overconsumption has taken on a new form. Every swipe on social platforms presents challenges for the next must-have item or the next viral trend. The desire to flaunt one’s life in a picture-perfect manner has replaced authenticity, and collective purpose has been supplanted by individualism and distraction.
The systems of control and influence are still in place, but they no longer center on governance, military expansion, or public service; instead, they are centered around entertainment and the manipulation of attention. We are no longer mobilized for collective action, but for the pursuit of momentary satisfaction. Rather than confronting larger societal issues, we seek distraction through social media, numbing ourselves with entertainment instead of engaging with the complex problems facing our world.
Linguistic Deterioration
Language is constantly changing and while we can view the reliance on abbreviations as simplification rather than deterioration, social media and technology have nonetheless accelerated the use of acronyms and shortened words. Language is on one hand dynamic and adaptive and on the other, declining towards brain-rotted diction.
Social media, meant to inform and educate, has led to a loss of language. Oversimplification and reduced vocabulary have led to groupthink language. People sound off in comment sections, repeating the same expressions which reinforce shallow thinking. The decline in formal speech and writing signifies a loss in nuance and eloquence. This is evident by the cognitive laziness that is encouraged by short form media consumption.
The Empire of the Digital Age
Social media platforms now resemble modern-day empires in many ways. These platforms control vast territories of digital space, spanning across countries and cultures, with their influence touching nearly every aspect of modern life. Much like the Roman Empire, social media wields ideological power over its vast "territory." These platforms govern attention, spread propaganda, and influence not just consumer behavior, but political ideologies. Social media, although decentralized in some aspects, still exerts centralized control through algorithms, data surveillance, and content moderation. It is an empire in the digital age, using attention as its currency.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok control a monopoly on attention, shaping what we see, how we interact, and what we value. They are empires not of land, but of information. Just as Rome used military force to maintain control over its vast empire, social media companies use algorithms to control the flow of content and, by extension, the public consciousness. These platforms have the power to dictate trends, amplify voices, and even alter political landscapes, all while making users feel that they are in control of their own choices.
Consequences of This Shift
Perhaps Aldous Huxley was right in Brave New World—we have become a society that craves pleasure above all else. We no longer seem capable of sitting in discomfort or contemplation for even a few seconds without reaching for our phones. We long for connection, but instead of forming meaningful relationships or engaging in collective action, we watch others live their lives through our screens. These parasocial relationships—where we invest emotionally in people we will never meet—have become a substitute for authentic human interaction.
Despite being more interconnected than ever before, we are increasingly fragmented and isolated. The very platforms designed to connect us have, in many ways, done the opposite. How can we rally behind a common purpose when we are so fixated on individualism and self-gratification? How can we build collective power when our attention is constantly diverted? This growing disconnection from reality could lead to political and social instability, especially in a world where governments and corporations rely on our fragmented attention to keep us passive and entertained.
Conclusions
It is unlikely that we will ever again experience the collective power of an empire like Rome. The unique ability of the Roman Empire to mobilize people around a common cause has been diminished by the changing nature of human attention and language in the digital age. We live in an era marked by technological advancements, yet we are simultaneously consumed by an insatiable hunger for fleeting pleasures and shortened communication. The question remains: Can the enduring pursuit of collective purpose still exist in such a society?
