The Torment Nexus is a term used in critical commentary of the influence of science fiction on technological development. It was coined in a 2021 Tweet by American writer Alex Blechman, shortly following Facebook’s announcement that it would be rebranding to Meta Platforms as part of a shift in the company’s focus towards developing a metaverse.
Dais Johnston of Inverse has defined the Torment Nexus as ‘shorthand for something that backfired in fiction being unironically replicated in reality.’ Reviewing the 2023 CES trade show, Katie Wickens of ‘PC Gamer’ defined the Torment Nexus as ‘a concept that encompasses our growing concern that science fiction will continue to become science fact across the consumer market, with the phobias wrought by technological speculation turning palpable in the hands of money-hungry corporations.’
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The Daily Omnivore 