A large-scale study in France reveals that the cultural gap between immigrants, their descendants, and the general population is closing at an accelerated pace. Researchers call this process a great mixing, where daily practices, values, and behaviors are homogenizing, blurring traditional social boundaries.
Algorithms and baguettes: digital convergence as a social accelerator 🚀
Digital platforms and universal access to global content act as catalysts for this phenomenon. The study points out that the consumption of series, music, and social networks is almost identical among groups, regardless of origin. This suggests that recommendation algorithms not only unify tastes but also level codes of conduct, from the way people dress to the perception of public space, generating a common cultural base faster than any integration policy.
Goodbye foie gras, hello gourmet kebab (and vice versa) 🥐
The funniest part of the report is that while the grandchildren of immigrants reject grandma's couscous for being too bland, purebred French people demand that their raclette include a touch of harissa. The mixing is advancing so quickly that soon we won't know if the croissant is an Arab invention or if couscous is a typical dish of Brittany. In the end, the only thing that will unite us all will be the shared hatred of poorly melted cheese.