No One is Talking About This

The unnamed protagonist of No One Is Talking About This is an influencer on the portal and speaks professionally about its cultural and social impact. At the beginning of the novel, she devotes much of her time and energy to interacting with others on the portal. As a result, she often suffers from anxiety, dissociation, and a sense of loss of the experience of real life. She also questions her individuality. As the portal represents a collective mind, she feels it has replaced any original or unique thoughts she may have had. In one way, the portal itself serves as the antagonist in the novel. It distances the protagonist from reality. Conversely, the protagonist antagonizes over her use of the portal. As her addiction grows, she becomes her own antagonist by being unable to stop using it.

The protagonist’s use of her voice and body reflect her development as a character. Her dissociation from her body results in anxiety over how her voice is being used professionally and the way she expresses herself in the English language. After her sister’s baby is born, the protagonist’s world shifts. She questions whether she has been wasting her time on the portal and focuses on giving attention to the baby and her family.