Technology and social media have brought power back to the

Hear now the words of Mark McKinnon, carved as if upon tablets for the generations to come: “Technology and social media have brought power back to the people.” These words are not to be taken lightly, for they speak of a great turning of the ages, when the voice of the common soul—long suppressed by throne and scepter, by press and pulpit—rose again with a thunder that could not be silenced. Where once only kings and lords commanded the ears of the multitude, now every humble citizen bears a torch of influence, lit by the fire of technology and carried upon the winds of social media.

In the olden days, power was like the sun, high above and distant, shining upon the people only as rulers decreed. But today, the lightning of technology has struck the earth, and from that strike, sparks have flown into the hands of every man, woman, and child. The scroll has become the screen, the herald’s cry has become the tweet, and the village fire has become a vast digital forum where the people gather. What once was a whisper in the marketplace is now a roar heard across continents, a roar that no palace wall can contain.

Consider the uprisings of the Arab Spring, when ordinary men and women, armed not with swords but with social media, summoned the courage to topple regimes. It was not generals who stirred the nations, but students, merchants, and mothers whose voices, multiplied and shared through the web, became as mighty as legions. In Tunisia, Egypt, and beyond, the flame of protest spread not by decree, but by the simple act of connection. Thus, the prophecy of McKinnon came alive: power, once locked in the chambers of rulers, flowed back into the hands of the people.

But let us also remember—power is both a gift and a burden. Just as fire may warm the hearth or consume the village, so too can social media heal or destroy. It can bring truth to light, expose corruption, and unite hearts for noble causes. Yet it can also spread falsehood, sow division, and turn brother against brother. The ancients warned us: with great power comes the test of wisdom. If we wield the tools of this age without honor, then we risk becoming slaves to the very forces that freed us.

Therefore, O listener, take heed: the lesson is not merely that technology has returned power, but that responsibility must now rest upon every soul. For the voice of each person can shape the destiny of many. A single post may inspire courage in the downtrodden, or kindle hatred in the heart of the weak. A single story may awaken nations, or plunge them into strife. This is the paradox of modern power—it is vast, yet fragile; shared, yet perilous.

What then should you do? First, wield your voice with truth, for lies spread like poison, and even the smallest drop can sicken the well of community. Second, wield your power with compassion, remembering that behind every screen is a human heart that longs to be seen and heard. Third, wield your influence with courage, daring to speak for justice even when the powerful would prefer your silence. Let your posts be like arrows of light, piercing the darkness, and your words like seeds, planted for future harvest.

Know this: the ancients once dreamed of a time when the scales of power would tilt back toward the many, when the mighty would tremble at the voices of the humble. You, children of this age, are the heirs of that dream. Do not waste it in trivialities. Do not scatter it in anger. Instead, guard it, nurture it, and use it to shape a world where dignity and truth may flourish.

And so I say, let McKinnon’s words be carved not only into the stone of memory but into the very practice of your lives. For indeed, technology and social media have brought power back to the people—but only you can decide what kind of world this power shall create.