SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHITE BLINDNESS

Abstract

This essay explores the metaphor of "white blindness" in the novel *Blindness* by José Saramago as a critique of social alienation and the fragility of ethical norms, relating it to behavior on social networks. The blindness in the novel symbolizes dehumanization and the collapse of empathy, reflecting the disintegration of social bonds and the emergence of aggressive and impulsive behaviors in the digital environment, facilitated by anonymity and the absence of direct contact. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman's ideas of liquid society, the essay discusses how the fluidity of relationships and the instability of social structures intensify alienation and weaken social ties on networks, where interactions are fleeting and often ego-centered. The increase in cybercrimes and hate speech is addressed, highlighting the fragility of institutions in dealing with these issues. Nonetheless, it suggests that, as in Saramago's novel, there is potential to restore solidarity and empathy through the conscious use of social networks, promoting critical and constructive dialogues.