In this age, technology is no longer a neutral tool like it was in the past. It has now transformed into a new tool for power, like political, economic, and social. We live in a time when social media algorithms can determine what we see, what we believe, and even influence our democratic choices. Digital platforms, search engines, and social media such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are no longer used by people to communicate and share news. They have become instruments for spreading ideologies, shaping public opinion, and controlling narratives that influence the society.
Prominent figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have not only managed to use technology as a tool, but they have also become part of the very power structures that shape its direction and impact. Trump leveraged social media to build political movements and directly influence people. On the other hand, Elon Musk, as the owner of multinational tech companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (now X), holds immense control over the technological infrastructure used by billions of people around the world.
This is why it is crucial to view technology through a more critical and realistic lens. The technorealist approach reminds us not to be swept away by the current of technology. Instead, we must think critically about its function. Who creates it? For what purpose? Who benefits? And who is harmed?
Technology is not a neutral tool, nor does it stand independently. It is closely tied to social and political contexts. Therefore, when discussing technological development, we must consider who holds the power behind it and how that technology is being used.
Twitter: Social Media as a Microphone of Power
Donald Trump may be the clearest example of how social media has been transformed into a political instrument. During his presidency, Twitter became a tool for announcing policies, performing political theater, and mobilizing his base. Trump used digital technology to blur the lines between unfiltered communication and information dissemination.
Technorealists argue that Trump’s use of social media illustrates how digital platforms can be used to reinforce authoritarian forms of power, not through overt control, but through disinformation, polarization, and the framing of the public. Thus, Twitter, which was originally designed as a space for updates and self-expression, can also be repurposed into a far-reaching tool of power.
Elon Musk: Ruler of the Digital Infrastructure
This story doesn’t end with Trump. When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X, the dimension of power in technology became even more transparent. Musk is not only a prominent figure in tech innovation but also someone who controls one of the most significant infrastructures for global public communication. As the CEO of several leading multinational companies, including X, Musk has a lot of power that, in a healthy democracy, should be shared more fairly. He was not elected, he is not subject to checks and balances, yet he controls vast stretches of the digital public sphere.
His ability to restrict or enable communication access on his platform highlights just how fragile digital sovereignty becomes when it lies in private hands. What makes this situation even stranger is that X’s performance has declined since Musk’s acquisition, like revenues dropped, and many employees were laid off. This only strengthens suspicions that there might be a “special mission” behind Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
In this context, technorealism views technology not as a neutral tool but as an instrument capable of reinforcing structures of power. If left unchecked, its social and political consequences can be enormous, even threatening democratic sovereignty and political neutrality.
Tech Capitalism and Flawed Democracy
Trump and Musk are two figures in the same phenomenon: the concentration of power in the hands of a few, who use technology not to democratize information but to shape public opinion to their will. Trump relied on personal influence and direct narrative through social media to build political strength. Musk, with his control over social media infrastructure, marks a new era where freedom of expression is determined by algorithms and platform policies.
Technorealists argue that it is essential to understand that technology does not inherently carry democratic values. These values must be embedded through policy design, fair regulation, and neutral public participation. Without this, technology will instead become a tool for supporting inequality and domination. Just look at how social media algorithms are designed to prioritize engagement, not the accuracy of information. As a result, what spreads widely is not necessarily important information, but provocation. What goes viral is not appropriate content, but sensationalism. In such an ecosystem, populist ideas like those promoted by Trump find the perfect environment to spread.
Musk in the Trump Administration: Innovation Partner or Power Legitimizer?
The peak of Musk’s relationship with Trump happened at the start of Trump’s presidency, when Musk joined several presidential advisory groups like the Presidential Advisory Forum and the Strategic and Policy Forum in 2017. His decision to be part of these official government circles sparked major controversy. Musk’s involvement signaled that technology is not neutral but part of the current power. In that role, Musk wasn’t just an innovator but also a political actor who could influence national policies on key issues like technology, energy, and more.
From a technorealist point of view, this situation shows that tech innovation is not always politically neutral. Musk’s role in the Trump administration gave legitimacy to a government that was heavily criticized for its anti-science and anti-environment policies. Even though Musk later stepped down from the advisory boards, his initial involvement showed that even tech leaders who claim to “stand for the future” can still get caught up in political dynamics. When governments and tech giants collaborate, it can lead to policies driven not by democracy, but by personal branding and business interests. Musk and Trump may be very different figures, but their collaboration shows a kind of symbiosis between political and technological power. Governments need innovation to look credible, and tech companies need political access and policy support. The danger is that this could lead to an oligarchy, where tech billionaires can influence national decisions without any democratic value.
What Should Be Done?
Technorealism doesn’t mean rejecting technology; technology needs to be guided by fairness, transparency, and democracy. To address this, we need bold action, like strong regulations against digital monopolies, transparency in platform algorithms, better public education on digital literacy, and the creation of independent institutions to oversee public communication infrastructure. Without clear and firm policies, the same pattern will repeat: popular figures using technology for political gain, tech figures redefining public space to fit their own interests, and ordinary people left as mere consumers with little power to stop it.
