Data colonialism operates through engineered addictive media rather than raw extraction.

Evidence

Skam’s ability to create addiction in vulnerable audiences, reorganize reality for profit, reduce social life to social media life, derive value from the resources of users, and mobilize global markets makes it a good example of data colonialism in action. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection, 349

Categorization

• DEFINE: Operationalizes ‘data colonialism in action’ via five concrete features: addiction, reality-reorganization, socialization of life, value extraction, and market mobilization.