Essay. A Fourth Ideology of Individualism: Adding “Online Individuality” to a Theoretical Lens

Abstract

Robert Putnam (2020) suggests Americans have become more individualistic every decade since the 1960’s. I have suggested that individualism is not a single monolith, but rather three different ideologies of individualism that have become entangled (2008). Consequences of these individualisms include widespread selfabsorption, and a lack of desire to correct structural problems. This article adds a fourth ideology, the ideology of online individuality, to the three previously stated. The consequences of this ideology are very similar to the others. Implications of ever-increasing individualism are raised. Solutions are suggested.