Grounded in Marx's theory of communication, this study examines the reification of social interactions in social media. The findings reveal three manifestations: instrumentalized relational dynamics, quantified value systems, and alienated subjectivity, with root causes tracing back to three key factors: the permeation of capital logic, the expansion of technological rationality, and the path dependence of human agency. Building on the principle that "humanity is the sum of social relations," the paper proposes a de-reification approach through reshaping communicative value orientations, establishing rational technological frameworks, and cultivating autonomous subject consciousness, offering actionable strategies for fostering a healthier social ecosystem.
Zhen Zhang (Tue,) studied this question.