Is there a general term for this sort of thing? It's like a Simulacra and Simulation kind of thing where over time, representations become symbols, maybe because it's "easier" and a shortcut to communication, and soon we've reduced things down so everything can only be described with few discrete symbols, making it difficult to have nuance discussion.

Maybe I'm overthinking this or getting it wrong. I have not read Baudrillard. Perhaps I should.