From the oversight of power to the culture of voluntary surveillance with digitalization omnipticon

Abstract

In the historical process from modernity to postmodernity, surveillance has changed with new communication technologies and brought new criticisms. With modernity, asymmetrical surveillance, defined by the metaphor of the panopticon, the surveillance apparatus of power, has been replaced; The omniopticon, the last point of surveillance in post-modern societies, has taken the metaphor and masked the supervisory function of power. The supervision function of the panopticon based on external pressure and coercion has turned into a 'pleasurable and entertaining' quality when it comes to the omniopticon. In order to elaborate these relationships, the study makes a conceptual discussion of surveillance culture before creating a narrative about the historical origin of the concept of panopticon. Based on these discussions, as a result of the effects created by new media, the concept of omniopticon as a form of voluntary surveillance is discussed within the scope of the research in order to reveal the appearance of surveillance culture in all areas of daily life within the voluntary effect. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.