The Surveillance Self

How Self-Tracking Became Self-Control

The Surveillance Self: How Self-Tracking Became Self-Control offers a critical exploration of the philosophical and sociocultural implications of self-tracking practices, particularly through the lens of Gilles Deleuze's theories on surveillance and control. The work posits that contemporary society is increasingly characterized by a duality in how individuals engage with their data, termed "dividuals," emphasizing the tension between personal autonomy and institutional oversight. As technology evolves, traditional forms of surveillance have transformed into pervasive self-monitoring practices, wherein individuals actively engage in tracking their health and behaviors, thereby embodying both self-discipline and self-objectification in a surveillance-driven culture.

This paradigm shift from disciplinary societies to control societies underscores a move from overt regulation to subtler mechanisms of behavioral modulation through digital technologies. In this context, self-tracking becomes both a tool for personal empowerment and a site of potential emotional distress, where the pressure to conform to quantified metrics can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-criticism.

Prominent debates center on ethical considerations, particularly regarding data privacy, consent, and the implications of surveillance capitalism. As individuals willingly share personal information, the ownership and monetization of their data by corporations become contentious issues. Overall, The Surveillance Self provides a nuanced framework for understanding the motivations and consequences of self-tracking, urging a critical examination of the balance between personal agency and the pervasive forces of surveillance that define contemporary life.

Background: From Disciplinary Societies to Control Societies

The concept of surveillance in contemporary society is deeply intertwined with the philosophical frameworks established by Gilles Deleuze. His theory accommodates the notion of duality, reflecting the complex relationship between individuals and their data representations—termed "dividuals" within his assemblage framework. This perspective is crucial for understanding the dynamics of a surveillance society and the intricate design of data networks, which increasingly reduce human corporeality to a mere "data double."

Visibility is a trap.

Michel Foucault

The evolution of surveillance has transitioned from traditional methods, like employer oversight, to more nuanced and pervasive electronic systems. Today, surveillance techniques "make visible" the actions and behaviors of individuals not only through direct observation but also through the extensive collection and analysis of data, often without their awareness. This results in the construction of personal profiles from disparate data sources, raising concerns about data sovereignty.

Moreover, Deleuze posited that modern societies have shifted from what Michel Foucault termed "disciplinary societies," which rely on institutions like prisons and schools for control, to "Control Societies," where power is exercised through technological infrastructures. This shift represents a transformation in how societal control is enacted, focusing on the modulation and prediction of behavior rather than direct punishment. The advent of algorithms and machine learning has further facilitated this change, enabling real-time control and subtle manipulation of individual actions, thereby profoundly reshaping individual subjectivity.

Key Concepts in Self-Tracking

Sense of Agency in Self-Tracking

The subjective experience of agency plays a significant role in self-tracking behaviors. It can be characterized by varying aspects such as a controlling self, a physical self, and one's interaction with the environment. For instance, users may feel fully in control of their actions, perceive their movements as automatic, or struggle to predict how their actions affect their surroundings. This differentiation influences how individuals engage with self-tracking technologies and interpret their accomplishments.

Impact of Numerical Feedback

Numerical feedback from self-tracking devices significantly affects users' self-perception and motivation. Research indicates that quantitative feedback, such as step counts, can lead to more critical self-talk among users who do not meet their goals. This feedback turns an activity like walking into a task to be accomplished, which can foster negative self-evaluation, particularly among users with a fixed mindset. These individuals may become preoccupied with numerical targets rather than focusing on their overall well-being.

Mindsets and Self-Compassion

The user's mindset is critical in how they process self-tracking experiences. Individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to express self-kindness and focus on improvement, even when facing setbacks. In contrast, those with a fixed mindset may experience frustration and self-judgment. This highlights the importance of psychological factors in interpreting tracked data, suggesting that a positive mindset can mitigate feelings of inadequacy tied to performance metrics.

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates

The Role of Surveillance

Self-surveillance is closely intertwined with classical surveillance, as it merges self-control with external monitoring. Individuals engage in self-surveillance through wearable devices or mobile applications that track various health metrics or productivity levels, ultimately encouraging a habit of self-objectification. This phenomenon reflects a broader trend towards a