Much of the echo chamber type stuff was always going on. The Internet simply expanded it and put it on public display. Before the Internet do you think most people didn't stay in social circles of like-minded people? Memes were actual fads people acted out.
I think the social commentary in the original Bioshock is stronger that most people are slaves following orders but believe themselves to be free. That freedom is an illusion because most people in our society don't have the luxury of not following orders even when this fact is pointed out to them.
never played Bioshock, didnt have a 360.
anyway as for circles before the internet as we know it, I think of Use-net. one of the early internet BBS boards from the 90s. it was a shythole to say the least. if you think 4-chans /pol/ is bad? wait til you see some of the old ass use-net stuff.
there was always an old saying "birds of a feather flock together" which has rung true for generations. so I dont doubt that before the digital age there were echo chambers
as for memes, look up "the selfish gene" from 1976 by Richard Dawkins. he first created the term memetics which soon devolved in to the word memes.
I think one of the most well known memes of my time was the Macarena. yes, I embarrassingly did it while watching others do it on TV back in the 90s, no I have no regrets. it was a song about some puta anyway.
I loved growing up in the late 90s. we had the best cartoons and none of that no child left behind bullshyt
this is something that should be passed around, Its sad how predictable the information age really is. how even in 2001 it was obvious where the world was headed. Memes dumbing down the masses through oversaturating the internet with unneeded information. constant echo chambers and safe havens of people who spout the same delusions over and over between eachother until it becomes reality,
