Society must manage digital technology, not let it take control

he evolution of technology has brought with it almost as many problems as it has produced solutions, for the way we work, conduct business, live, and socialise.

Even before the period that ushered in the much-vaunted EduTech programme that was promoted by then Minister of Education Mia Mottley in 2000, there was a recognition that the country needed to prepare its young people to operate in a modern world utilising cutting-edge and evolving technologies.

It is 2024 and the advancements have reached the stage where technological developments supersede human abilities to process and undertake innumerable tasks.

We are in an age of artificial intelligence where computer-generated books, transcripts, architectural designs, decor and even fashion styling can be achieved effortlessly in a matter of minutes or seconds.

Various sets of technology have allowed us to stay in the comfort of our own homes and pay every bill within minutes or transfer funds to others, without the need to walk into a bank or credit union and stand in line.

The conveniences are spectacular. In fact, some who were born into the technological age cannot now fathom how generations before were able to function without the modern conveniences.

The story of technology has not been all rosy, however. Today, governments and institutions are in a constant battle to maintain the integrity of their systems from hacking, abuse and exploitation.

This is most evident in the world of social media and electronic communications. Bad actors are constantly seeking weak areas in the computer systems of institutions from which they can enter to either disrupt or hijack for some kind of financial gain.

Digital addiction is now a real thing. It is being spotlighted for its association with health problems such as eye strain, headaches, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and poor posture.

Even more insidious are the social side effects. Having survived the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s attachment to their various devices and smartphones appears to be even more entrenched.

The effect has been devastating, particularly for our young people, many of whom are disinclined to read books, and the snippets of items they do read are often a piece of disinformation or skillfully packaged video, designed to shape their opinions and/or purchasing habits.

It has been plausibly argued that psychologically, digital addiction can lead to issues such as an increased risk of depression and anxiety, as well as a decrease in self-esteem. There is also documented evidence that digital addiction, like other more well-known dependencies, leads to decreased social interaction, as people are more focused on their devices than on their relationships with family and friends.

It is from that isolation and misbelief that there is anonymity on the Internet that would lead to the kind of idiotic yet dangerous practice of bomb threats to schools and other institutions over the past few days.

The disruptions are not only a nuisance, but they also waste precious resources of law enforcement and police and create havoc for parents and school administrators. Thus far, the threats have been hoaxes.

Ironically, these threats that have reportedly been made via email to several schools can be traced and if the perpetrators reside in Barbados, it is likely they will be caught.

Given the nature and method of the threats’ transmission, many suspect that these may be the actions of students or young people who gain some pleasure in creating chaos and confusion.

On the other hand, the public was introduced to another unfortunate side-effect of digital technology. It is the weakening literary skills of children and young adults.

As the Insurance Corporation of Barbados (ICBL) launched its annual Spelling B competition, we learned from the company’s Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Gail Hinkson, that less than stellar literacy skills are showing up in the job applications in the corporate environment.

“The decline of literacy among our young children has been a cause for concern for education officials and Barbadians. As HR practitioners, we see it every day in job applications,” Hinkson remarked.

What does all this suggest? This may be one of the most evident cases of a frog in water that is slowly boiling. Our society recognises the dangers and pitfalls; however, the commitment to well-thought-out action appears to be lacking or slow in the response.