How does Wade resemble his hero James Halliday, and in what ways are they different? What experiences cause Wade to become disillusioned with his hero?

Consider the relationship between empathy and present digital technologies like social media. Would technology like ONI improve people’s empathy or inhibit it?

How does ONI make humanity complacent in the face of global threats? Are there parallels to 21st-century social media and video streaming platforms?