Digital Soul By Adeline Atlas (SOS: School Of Soul)
Dec 19, 2025
ORDER YOUR COPY
SIXTEEN
TWO TYPES OF SURVEILLANCE
CONVERT VERSUS OVERT
Surveillance manifests in two primary forms: covert and overt. Covert surveillance employs hidden or disguised techniques, ensuring that the subjects remain unaware of their observation. This form of surveillance might involve the use of concealed cameras, undisclosed monitoring software, or simply watching your Social Media in the shadows.
In contrast, overt surveillance is unmistakable and visible, utilized not just for monitoring but also as a deterrent.
“Social Media allows for both types of surveillance that are of the unsuspecting nature and that in which use of devices – known and unknown at the same time.”
In the realm of Social Media, these two forms of surveillance blend and blur the lines between the visible and the invisible. Social platforms engage in a dual-natured monitoring: they are both overt in their presence and covert in their depth of data collection. Many often know they are sharing their lives without much thought. This complex interplay of known and unknown surveillance mechanisms sets the stage for a deeper discussion on access and energy.
