Not quite, but you are close. It wasn't the whole population in 1984 that was monitored. Inner Party members were monitored, but could turn off telescreens. Out

Not quite, but you are close. It wasn't the whole population in 1984 that was monitored. Inner Party members were monitored, but could turn off telescreens. Outer Party members had to have them on all the time. Proles weren't monitored. The idea was to monitor middle class as it was considered to be necessary for lower class to revolt. Upper class had no reason to revolt as they were in power. I'm leaving this comment mostly for people downvoting OP.