Living in a Digital Society: How do we deal with information bias？
By 2023, the number of Internet users worldwide is estimated to be 5.4 billion, representing 67% of the global population. When asked about their “attitude towards the Internet”, nearly 60% of British respondents chose “I can’t imagine daily life without the Internet” as the answer. There is no doubt that we live in a digital world today.
Looking back on my experience in the Digital Society course, I was surprised to see how much my understanding of the digital world has improved. As members of Generation Z, we are also considered “web natives” and have been ahead of the curve in Internet use since birth, spending more time online than any other generation, averaging around 4 hours a day. Technology has always been an integral part of our growing up. From the advent of social media to the rise of artificial intelligence, I’ve witnessed the gradual evolution of our digital landscape. However, it wasn’t until I took this course that I truly understood the profound implications of living in a digital society.
One aspect of the course that particularly struck me was the introduction to blogging-style content creation. Unlike traditional academic writing, this format encourages a more casual tone and incorporates multimedia elements such as images and video. It was a refreshing change of pace for me, and I found myself enjoying the creative freedom it offered. However, I have also encountered minor challenges, such as copyright issues when looking for images online, and I have discovered that it is impolite to use other people’s photos freely, even if it is not for profit. This experience raised my awareness of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, and I now take the ethical use of photographs more seriously in my own work.
This course has given me a deeper understanding of how technology is reshaping our social, economic, and cultural spheres. I began to realize how advances in communications, artificial intelligence, and short video platforms are fundamentally changing the way we interact and engage with the world around us. In deep discussions about digital rights, privacy, and digital engagement, I realized my role as a responsible digital citizen. I am acutely aware of the importance of critical thinking and conscious engagement in cyberspace, recognizing the power and influence that digital platforms hold. Our content creation on digital platforms has unprecedented communication power due to the popularity of the Internet, in the form of social media, online video, live streaming and other forms. Therefore, in the future, I may also consider doing a similar blog style we-media creation in the future, and do my best to change the world, even if it is small.
“Living in a digital world”
means the rapid advances in technology and how they are transforming every aspect of society, including communication, commerce and entertainment The digital age has revolutionized how we interact with the world around us. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, video calls have recently proliferated, enabling family and friends to cross great distances and transcend geographical barriers. This unprecedented connectivity makes the exchange of information easier and faster than ever before, enabling us to stay informed of global events and tailor our experiences to our personal preferences.
The drawbacks of digital society are also many, here mainly talks about the problem of big data recommendation (human bias) and the problem of artificial intelligence bias and how to mitigate these biases.
One of the most significant benefits of living in a digital society is the personalized experience it provides. As platforms like TikTok grow in popularity, users can see short videos tailored to their interests and preferences. This prevents them from encountering opposing views and content. Information cocoons create an environment in which people only encounter voices expressing opinions and ideas similar to their own. There is a very vivid analogy: the information cocoon. Silkworms are insects used to make silk, and when they enter the pupal stage, they wrap themselves in cocoons made of raw silk produced by the salivary glands. The formation of information cocoons is due to a multi-layered feedback loop between human and AI-driven recommendation algorithms. To make matters worse, most online users don’t know when they are trapped in such a cocoon and therefore only have access to a fraction of the available information. These kinds of digitally amplified biases can fuel a heightened addiction to the “false self” or myopic self-focus and prevent users from encountering different people and perspectives. This limits their sources of information and prevents the full development of personal information in the long run.
The AI bias is caused by human bias.
Time and again, we see AI not only reflecting the biases of the data on which it is based, but also automating and amplifying those biases. The Alternative Sanctions Correctional Offender Management Analysis (COMPAS) predicts the likelihood that U.S. offenders will reoffend. In 2016, ProPublica investigated COMPAS and found that the system was more likely to consider black defendants to be at risk of reoffending than white defendants. Black defendants who were misclassified (45 percent) were nearly twice as likely as white defendants (23 percent); When all other variables, such as previous criminal conduct, age and gender, were controlled for, black defendants were classified as higher risk — 77 percent higher than white defendants.
Can AI be completely impartial? It’s very difficult. Because completely impartial people cannot exist, and artificial intelligence is built on the input of large amounts of data, unless the data is completely free of any subjective bias. While AI bias may seem like an insurmountable challenge, there are steps we can take to address the problem. By implementing best practices in data collection and algorithm development and promoting diversity and inclusion in AI R&D, we can work towards creating more fair and just AI systems. Furthermore, developing digital literacy and critical thinking skills is essential to empower individuals to navigate the complexities of the digital world in a responsible and ethical manner.
When it comes to AI bias, all examples have one thing in common — Data. AI learns bias from trained data, which means researchers have to be very careful about how they collect and process that data. For AI to work, there should be more real-time monitoring of results and human intervention when needed. But this will only work if these individuals have extensive training and the knowledge and techniques to identify and mitigate bias. Otherwise, AI tools could be really harmful, especially for vulnerable groups who are unfamiliar with AI, especially children. Moreover, if you rely too much on artificial intelligence, you may lose your rational thinking and critical thinking. Relevant laws and rules restricting artificial intelligence should also be introduced, and we must not lose critical thinking about the results given by AI, and cannot blindly believe and accept them, but must have our own judgment.
Our responsibility as “digital citizens.
In conclusion, living in a digital world presents us with a paradox: while it offers unprecedented opportunities for connectivity, convenience, and personalization, it also presents complex challenges that demand our attention and action. From the proliferation of information cocoons to the perpetuation of AI bias, the digital age has ushered in a new era of uncertainty and complexity.
However, it is important to recognize that these challenges are not insurmountable. By fostering a culture of empathy and inclusion, we can create a more equitable and empowering digital society for all. This requires a concerted effort to address systemic biases, promote digital literacy, and ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of technology, regardless of age, ability, or background. As digital citizens, we have a shared responsibility to shape the future of our digital world by championing digital inclusion, ethical AI, and harnessing the transformative power of technology to create a more equitable and inclusive society for future generations. The elderly, the audiovisual disabled and other vulnerable groups on the Internet, are not used to digital changes. Or the digital process does not take into account their needs, they need more help from society, perhaps from each of us care. If possible, I hope that in the future, the needs of these vulnerable groups in the digital society will be better seen and respected. To build a digital world that reflects our values of equality, diversity and justice, and to ensure that no one is left behind as we progress. Together, we can navigate the complexities of the digital age and create a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
