The age of the like and the silencing of reflection

youth, digital exposure, and civilizational complexity

Abstract

Introduction: In the contemporary world, the internet occupies a central place in social life, transforming languages, interactions, and ways of accessing and producing knowledge. This technological reconfiguration reshapes social and cultural practices. Among the groups most affected by these transformations are young people. Objective: to analyze how the culture of digital exposure contributes to young people’s distancing from critical reflection on the contemporary variables of the so-called "Civilizational Equation". Methodology: The research adopted a qualitative methodology of a bibliographic and critical nature, using as its corpus the final considerations of doctoral theses published between 2021 and 2023 in the CAPES Catalog, which were examined through Content Analysis. Results: The results indicate that hyperconnectivity and algorithmic logic create "bubbles" that reinforce individual preferences and stimulate the uncritical consumption of superficial information, hindering the development of complex thinking. Conclusion: It is concluded that the internet keeps young people in a state of constant occupation that privileges visibility and immediate validation over real social engagement. Such a scenario highlights the urgency of educational strategies focused on critical media literacy to reconnect youth with the dilemmas of contemporary reality.