Liberated or Limited: Has society been suffocated by our digital world?
Since the internet and its rise in popularity amongst the late 80’s and early 90’s, society has been gripped by ever evolving digital technology. Around 63% of the global population, this equating to around 4.65 billion people, are social media users. However, has online ecosystems and revolutionary technology created limiting implications that effect everyday life? A digital world has no shortage of problems, from privacy to cyber security issues users can be affected personally, financially even socially. Nevertheless, it is argued that through a digitally fuelled society customers and companies are more engaged online, communication has become vastly efficient, and we now have access to increased information. But does digital technology liberate or limit us?
A Glass Half Full
Digital technology is beneficial in numerous ways and why not be optimistic as it has and continues to mould the world we live in. Individuals use the internet on a regular basis as heavy reliance on digital technology can be because of its capability and many advantages. In fact, the average screen time for a person is “a total of 6 hours and 57 minutes” a day. Digital technology has the…
Positive Implications
Boosted communication is one of the primary factors that has changed in recent years. The ability to stay connected with somebody in an alternate country highlights the potential of digital technology because it keeps us invariably in touch. In 2020 WhatsApp made a revenue of $5.5 billion whilst in “April 2020, Zoom Video Communications had 300 million daily meeting participants worldwide”. These figures not only suggest how successful communication apps are but indicate that we have now incorporated technology into our daily lives, for example working from home via apps. living in a digital world has meant enhanced interconnectivity, more productivity quicker and increased engagement virtually allowing businesses and platforms to grow.
The output of work in which we as digital citizens can produce is much greater through the help of technology. There are concerns that the reduction in analogue face-to-face work environments is leading to fewer job opportunities but truthfully digital technology has given us access to more. From the marketing industry to software developers the digital age has far from suffocated but liberated many people, organisations and working sectors. A case study is Brazil as between the years 1995 and 2014 the “number of Brazilians employed (formally registered) increased from 23.8 to 49.6 million”. Therefore, even in developing nations digital technology has shown people a brighter path through the introduction of work.
Although smart cities have faced criticism regarding their ethical approach towards digital sustainability and social division, they highlight that the rise of technology has forced humans to create more dynamic and efficient societies. Whether you believe they are advantageous or flawed, smart cities are a symbol of utilising information and data to better human living and citizen welfare. It can be argued that smart cities are cost-ineffective and align with ‘totalitarian’ ideology however, in light of urbanised expansion and the fact that “the top 600 urban centres generate 60% of global GDP”, they do create more functional environmentally safe spaces. Challenges such as poverty and pollution can be halted by the introduction of more smart cities — we are not constricted by a digital society but on one side sculpted positively by it.
Behind the Curtain
Approximately 16% of adolescence are addicted to their mobile devices suggesting that living in a digital world creates unbalance. A weapon of mass distraction or a breeding ground for abuse — there are many controversial issues surrounding the rise of a digital world. As a result, we see a dark interior because there are unquestionable implications caused by technology that have affected the population in an adverse way.
Negative Implications
Online freedom has caused exploitation due to an arguably unregulated digital society. This is partly made possible through the success and usage of social media platforms such as Twitter. Unknowingly many people become fixed with online image as in January of 2019 “Instagram reported 500 million daily active stories users worldwide”. Exploitation can come in the form of online bullying through the lack of consequence that these platforms provide. Pew Research conducted a survey involving 750 13-to-17-year-olds and concluded that 97% use some form of social media. Access to apps that allow comparison has consequently led to bubbles of insecurity and toxicity amongst especially younger people.
Concerns over personal data is another negative implication that has been imposed on society through digital living. From cookie acceptance to apps requesting location the IoT is a virtual space that takes and recycles our data. In 2014 Facebook was accused of selling sensitive user information in an article and although this has been denied, we know data is stored and analysed to help companies target audiences through their likes and preferences. Letting websites save your password is common but in reality, is this, OK? Shouldn’t privacy and protection be essential when navigating digital technology.
A digital world has altered the way we view ethical responsibility. Online identity is separate to who you are as a person because of the manipulative and malicious aspects within digital technology. Although measures are taken to try and prevent harmful acts, we cannot fully control other’s actions sufficiently online. For example, mental health, racial bias amongst AI and cyber-crime are all cyber-dependant ethical problems ignited by a digitally run society.
Summary
The problem is not that we have become overwhelmingly more unethical, it is that a digital world means it’s harder to maintain and promote ethical behaviour when we have so much accessible content. Living in a digital world has not meant that we have become suffocated. We are both limited and liberated through technology, as yes, we experience virtual freedom, but at an expense. Lack of knowledge combined with the internet’s potential and accelerated progression has meant we as digital citizens have not and cannot control technological modification and change. Positive and negative implications can be witnessed and therefore we stay wanting to know more about the power of digital technology.
Reflection
From beginning to end I have been engaged by this course which I feel is very important. This module combines formative weekly learning with tasks to complete that make you really think, leading to satisfaction once completed. The most crucial aspect of digital society is not only the support given even though teaching is only online, but the blog format. This is a modern way to approach a course layout but I think it works well! I would highly recommend this module because of its casual yet ambitious requirements. Assessments are placed at the centre of this course from the get-go, and this helped me focus on what I wanted to write about. It doesn’t ask too much and doesn’t ask too little of you — a great balance.
I did find various aspects of the course challenging in particular the week regarding chatbots. The personal hypothesis task in week 4 and ‘contribute’ sections in week 3 were particularly challenging because I have never discussed/analysed topical questions like this before. I take Digital Humanities as a flexible honour which is a minor to my major subject however I thought that this may have been too much work overall. This was not the case, however i was challenged throughout but not from a timescale or work overload’ perspective. The Assessments also challenged my knowledge of the course units and how digital marketing effects our lives especially. I have never written blogs before so referencing pictures correctly and using more grabbing persuasive text was also a challenge.
This module helped me develop my critical thinking considerably as the majority of course information is not spoon fed and deciphered for you. The use of questions where students must contribute and give their unique ideas highlights how digital society forces you not just to read and listen but participate also. Access to other student assessments and work is valuable as I constantly compared previous writing to help improve mine. I learnt more about effective structuring and strategy, how to distinguish between fact and opinion plus learnt about techniques that help strengthen my arguments.
Key points I discovered over the module:
- That contextual chatbots develop/change through user interaction
- Berner-Lee and the history of the Internet
- The idea of ‘Surveillance Capitalism’
I believe that this course has helped in giving me a better understanding of what our role is in a digital world and what factors make technology so unpredictable. I understand what the impacts of social media and the IoT are and how we play a part in the progression of this digital world. Looking towards the future technological requirements will only increase, so this module has aided me in giving context on how digital media is so influential and why it came to be. Job interviews or further academic work may ask about topics covered in this module such as the ability to critically analyse or smart city infrastructure, meaning I can look back at this course for guidance.
