What Is 'Torment Nexus?' The 'Man-Made Horrors' Trope Explained

News of companies bringing something horrifying or troublesome we saw on a TV screen or read in books into reality has been getting compared with "creating a Torment Nexus" in many, many memes recently.

While the Torment Nexus, obviously, is something unpleasant, what exactly is it, and who coined the expression?

If you're confused about this recent trend in memes and online discussions, read all about the trope that describes man-made horrors in our explainer here.

Where Does "Torment Nexus" Come From?

The slang term "Torment Nexus" and the phrase "Don't create the Torment Nexus" both come from a tweet made by Twitter user @AlexBlechman on November 8th, 2021. The tweet was made two weeks following Meta presenting their metaverse plans and is likely a reference to it.

What Is Torment Nexus?

Torment Nexus is used as a metaphor for a thing that was once described as something that, for the benefit of humanity, should not be created, but was then actually created.

Occurrences that fit the Torment Nexus trope have been observed several times in 2022. One notable example is the subscription-based ticketing service MoviePass announcing plans to track people's eyes to make sure they watch ads, similar to a scene from the Black Mirror episode "Fifteen Million Merits." Another example is Netflix's announcement of a reality TV show based on its hit survival drama Squid Game, originally intended as a commentary on capitalism and exploitation.

Examples of Torment Nexus in a Sentence

• Ugh, are you sure we're not creating a Torment Nexus here?
• Did you see the latest announcement by CompanyCorp? Major Torment Nexus vibes.

Similar Memes

While Torment Nexus is used to comment on things that should not have become reality, but ultimately did, another meme is better suited for a description of technological advancements that seem scary and counterintuitive.

Originally said by Nicola Tesla at the first Electrical Exhibition in September 1898, "You may live to see man-made horrors beyond your comprehension" became a popular meme in 2021 and has often been used to describe frightening and inhumane inventions.

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For the full history of Torment Nexus be sure to check out our entry for more information.