Opiate of the Digital Networks

The holograph display cast an eerie orange glow across Cheng's cramped dorm room. Lines of code scrolled, seemingly endless, with more added with each tap of the keyboard. Outside, the cityscape hummed with nightlife from a million souls. But Cheng was oblivious, lost in his digital world.

He was driven towards his goal, towards a better world. He wanted a new social media algorithm, one that wouldn't just feed on base desires. Rather than the hedonism of manufactured drama, his would curate thoughtful discussions and connect people along shared intellectual curiosity.

He stopped typing and let out a sigh. He leaned backwards in his chair, stretching his back after hours of hunching over. He glanced at the time and saw it was long past midnight. Dalmar would be passed out by now, with the remnants of the latest fraternity party still hanging in the air. Cheng wrinkled his nose at the floral odor, probably the latest perfume from Heidi. He didn't understand their obsession with fleeting pleasures and their need to be validated by the fickle whims of virality.

"They're missing out," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy hair. "There's a whole world of ideas out there just waiting to be explored."