Geert Lovink (Lecture)
he/him
Sat May 30 | de Brakke Grond
Over the past decade, digital culture has produced a spectrum of psychological states shaped by the infrastructures of Big Tech – from platform nihilism and Zoom fatigue to the coping mechanisms embedded in the 24/7 rhythms of social media. In his work, Lovink approaches these conditions through a critical and psychoanalytic lens, arguing that meaningful alternatives can only emerge through a careful analysis of the techno-social environments that produce them.
Today, as the credibility of Silicon Valley’s “soft power” narratives begins to erode, digital platforms appear to be entering a more openly antagonistic phase. From subtle forms of behavioural influence to what he describes as infrastructural violence, Lovink examines this shift, and reflects on the possibility of collective responses, including forms of digital refusal and exodus.
About the speaker
Geert Lovink is a Dutch media theorist, internet critic, and author. His work examines the social, political, and psychological impacts of digital platforms and network cultures. His recent books include Sad by Design (2019), Stuck on the Platform (2022), and Platform Brutality (2025).
In 2004, Lovink founded the Institute of Network Cultures at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, a research centre dedicated to critical internet studies, digital culture, and experimental publishing. Alongside his academic work, he supports initiatives for Ukrainian artists, including UkrainaTV and the StreamArtNetwork.
