This paper critiques how algorithms and media environments suppress originality while rewarding imitation. Drawing on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, Zajonc’s repetition principle, and Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra, I argue that digital platforms incentivize conformity through curated choice, dopamine-driven reinforcement, and the illusion of authenticity.

Using the Expressive Space Framework, developed through prior work, this analysis explores how algorithmic decision-making, economic opacity, and emotional neglect undermine tutor autonomy and educational integrity.

The Expressive Space Framework is a conceptual model that outlines the conditions under which creators can thrive in digital ecosystems.