Week 35 - Survey on the effects of COVID-19 on individuals: Digital Panopticon

It's claustrophobic... almost.

The Panopticon is a phenomenon where an individual is being observed, or feels they are, at all hours of the day. Coined by Foucault to describe an ideal prison structure, it’s more pertinent now more than ever in the digital age, especially with COVID-19 heightening surveillance for the sake of public health.

The following survey delves into individuals' mental and emotional states impacted by this ‘Digital Panopticon’, requiring you to answer openly and honestly.

1. What is your occupation?

   Artist

2. How many people are in your household?

   3

3. How many devices are there in your household?

   +10

4. How many cameras are on your household members on a daily basis

   +20

5. Does your household do any activities that directly put you in front of a camera?

   Yes

6. How many hours is your household in front of cameras a day?

   8+

7. Does your household partake in social media?

   Yes

8. How frequently does your household post content?

   Very frequently

9. Does this impact your household's physical health positively, negatively, or not?

   Negatively

10. Does this impact your household's mental health positively, negatively, or not?

    Negatively

11. In a few words, how do you feel this observation has impacted your household?

    There’s a lot of pressure to perform, and it’s hard to turn it off

12. In a few words, what are the physical cues that it has taken a toll on health?

    Bouts of nausea, panic attacks, insomnia, tremors, chronic pain, chronic headaches, mouth ulcers, tartar, hair loss

13. Are there any other insights you would like to offer?

    This household feels claustrophobic, a constant performance, a lot of the genuine loss or dwindling as a lot of the pain and hardship of work doesn’t have a divide from the home. As the only one in the household not under constant observation, I’m the only one with any semblance of progress and success.