Navigating the planes of a digital society
What is a digital society?
After exploring the topics of this unit, I believe a digital society is how our society receives and operates with the digital tools and technology available to us and those to come. As our society becomes more digitalised, I’d say it is nearly impossible to avoid digital engagement — whether the user realises it or not. With this engagement, there will be implications of living in a digital society and users will need to develop skills to engage effectively and appropriately.
Academic
One aspect of life where living in a digital society has affected citizens is academia. I’d say that AI has allowed students to have a greater convenience when pursuing their studies: summarising chapter readings and additional free online support available 24/7. Likewise, teachers have also benefitted from the use of AI. This BBC article highlights how teachers have made efficient use of their time by allowing AI to complete tasks such as: “Adapting the reading age of texts, making handouts, and writing emails to parents”.
However, those involved in academia must realise the potential drawbacks and ethical concerns of using AI. Universities and colleges have strict regulations on plagiarism and academic malpractice, with severe repercussions. At the University of Manchester, consequences, if convicted of plagiarism, include reduced marks, a mark of zero or even permanent exclusion from the course. Moreover, using AI for studies arguably negatively impacts students’ engagement levels and overall performance. This Stanford article argues that CHAT GPT provides answers to questions but not in a manner that optimises student learning. Incorrect use of AI among teachers can also implicate them. The content should be double-checked for accuracy and appropriateness before being delivered to students.
Professional
Living in a digital society also has impacted those in their professional lives. Integrated technology in the workforce through automation and digitalisation has allowed employees to increase productivity. Machines can complete tasks that are too dangerous or monotonous for people to do. Technology in the workforce has subsequently produced jobs. According to this Statista report, approximately 169 million jobs are to be created in China’s services industry by artificial intelligence and related technologies. However, there is a rising concern about AI causing redundancies. PwC’s annual global survey illustrated that a third of respondents said they were worried about the possibility of their role being replaced by technology in three years.
Their concern is reasonable.
In the United Kingdom, the idea of machines began circulating and was later developed in the 19th century. As a response to the growing presence of machines in the textile and farming industry, there was the Luddite riot where machines were vandalised and homes set ablaze. Their response, though extreme, highlights anxieties about job insecurity that technological changes can bring. To be clear, I am not suggesting rioting and arson to defend oneself against the advancing digital society. Instead, it’s wise to consider job prospects in a digital world and learn technical skills to improve digital literacy, which will be crucial for future jobs.
However, some jobs will remain ‘safe’ as they require skills that technology cannot replicate e.g. empathy, decision making and creativity. For example, Lois Gibson, Guinness World Records sketch artist, says technology isn’t as effective at the job and unable to help identify suspects.
Digital citizens must also reflect on their employability from employers’ perspective. In our final topic, we learnt that employers use digital technology for recruitment, including viewing online activity. Online users need to be mindful of their digital footprint, and what personal information they make available.
Our online activity is saved, leaving our data susceptible to breaches and cyberattacks. Responsible data management and security practices should be implemented. Managers, also citizens of a digital society, have the responsibility that this is done effectively. Management at Equifax failed to protect customers from the 2017 data breach. These affected millions of users and their personal information, such as telephone numbers and addresses, was exposed.
Personal
Think for a moment — when was the last time you engaged with a digital tool? The answer is likely a mere moment ago. As digital citizens, we have many uses for the internet: streaming content, social media, banking and browsing for information. We have the ‘World Wide Web’ at our fingertips and remain informed on local and global matters.
Unfortunately, misinformation and algorithms can affect the type, reliability and credibility of information we encounter daily. This includes serious things such as fake news and propaganda. Misinformation was rampant in 2020 about the COVID-19 pandemic and even the US Presidential Election. A study by Pennycook and Rand into the psychology of fake news found that people are more likely to believe news in line with their political beliefs. Moreover “exposure rates are substantially higher in subpopulations that may be particularly vulnerable to believing inaccurate content.” Human reasoning, discernment and digital literacy can deter the belief and spread of misinformation.
Furthermore, the internet keeps all of us interconnected — across the globe or a few miles away. Living in a digital society has changed how we connect with others. I often stay connected with my family back home in the Caribbean via WhatsApp. Features like voice messages and video calls allow me to sustain friendships even though I’m many miles away, and five hours ahead of their local time. The internet allows friendships to form across language, geographical and cultural barriers.
On a more intimate note, peer author Lola Sharp delves into how technology has transformed dating culture. With many options available, it allows users to date to their preferences. However, online dating also raises concerns about commitment, seeking validation, cyber harassment and catfishing.
Conversely, there are downsides to being overly connected on the internet. Peer author, Niki Geladi, explores the impact of technology on in-person interactions. These included greater chances of miscommunication and a toll on mental health. A study by Thomée, Härenstam and Hagberg concluded that high mobile phone use was associated with sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression. These results are generally accepted as social media use is discussed more frequently, and phones have built-in app-timers to encourage reasonable usage. However, I believe mobile phone usage and social media activity should go beyond time management and include breaks or hiatuses. I highly recommend watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix which explores the ‘dark side’ of social media and its purposeful addictive design.
Going forward
Upon completion, this course proved to be both informative and engaging. Unlike traditional formats of exams and formal essays, this unit allowed me to learn in a relaxed environment where my own voice could be reflected in my writing. Moreover, the asynchronous timetable has allowed me to have a greater degree of flexibility in my schedule. I appreciate the progressive format of assignments, which allows me to benefit from feedback and improve throughout.
However, it has not all been easy. The type of referencing, particularly photos, and the concept of intellectual property and ‘free to use’ took me a while to grasp and utilise properly. I’ve been aware of copyrighted images but taken aback to see the number of images that are not actually ‘free to use.’ This made finding images to use in my blog assignments more difficult — resulting in me using Unsplash for most photos.
From the topics, I discovered fascinating aspects of technology such as the concept of smart cities. I was previously unaware of how digital technology can be implemented to evolve cities and how it impacts the citizens. Moreover, it was nice to receive reminders on how to navigate the internet and remain safe online. This is crucial as most of our lives are online. This and other topics have allowed me to develop a deeper awareness and appreciation for digital tools and their potential to shape the future. I look forward to sharing this information with my peers, which can positively impact them and spark new, interesting conversations.
Another challenging aspect of this course is that it forced me to have a new perspective on digital technology. I think it would be wise for me to consider the kind of job prospects available as AI and other automation can make certain jobs obsolete. Conversely, I can be mindful to continuously improve my digital skills as technological advances so I can be a competent employee in the workforce. As a young adult, I’m certain I’m going to witness major technological changes that will impact my role in the workforce, personal relationships and the city I choose to reside in. Although the future remains unpredictable, I do feel as though I can confidently navigate the ever-changing digital landscape and embrace the exciting advancements that are to come.
