This paper utilizes Derrida’s philosophy of tele-technology to examine how social media shapes perceptions of religious violence. Although Derrida did not witness the advent of social media, he already saw how the widespread ownership of television and the accessibility of portable cameras in the late 50s and 60s marked a turning point in our ‘access’ to events all over the world. Today, social media has intensified this access further, as the digitization of our lifeworld provides unparalleled access to free information. In alignment with Derrida’s reflections on tele-technology, this accelerated access prompts a critical examination of narratives disseminated through social platforms. This scrutiny becomes particularly imperative when considering the portrayal of religious conflicts with significant human consequences, such as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This paper comprises two parts. The first section delves into Derrida's texts on tele-technology, showcasing the link between his media philosophy and the issue of religious violence. Here, it is shown that the West exploits tele-technology to globally disseminate a specific Judeo-Christian narrative. Derrida illustrates how this globalized spread suppresses alternative belief systems, thereby fostering resistance and religious conflicts. The second part examines the correlation between Derrida’s philosophy and the contemporary portrayal of religious violence on social media. In line with Derrida's stance on teletechnology, this part challenges the misconception that social media offers transparent access. Emphasizing the technological condition, it is shown that our access to events is confined to a specific mediative framework, limiting the comprehensive understanding of the event. However, in conclusion, I leverage Derrida’s vision for the democratization of tele-technology to advocate for a more promising future of social media. Rather than speaking for the Other, we should focus our future endeavors on enabling the globalized interconnection of social media to let different cultures speak and displace our perspective.