BY MUKHTAR AHMAD FAROOQI
Technology has not only empowered the individuals with quick retrieval and dissemination of information but has restructured our social behaviour as well. Access to gadgets especially smartphones and affordable internet packs has enabled digital access to information even to marginalized/unreached in spite of the noticeable digital divide. This information comes to individuals in unfiltered formats, raising questions about its authenticity, validity, and reliability. On one side social media has given new dimension to how we interact but at the same time it has become hub of misinformation / disinformation that is creating hurdles in building a knowledge society. In addition to this information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural and textual which is in itself is a new challenge to the people especially for semi/neo-literate population. This uncertain expansion and sheer abundance of information demands informed citizenry that possesses cluster of abilities to use and evaluate information effectively.
We all believe in the power of internet and how its innovations are playing an increasingly intrusive role in our lives but at the same time it has developed an irresistible attraction among us to screens thereby manipulating our moods. Endless bombardment of information in the form of text, videos, audios etc. has rendered us manic information addicts.
The thought of writing this write-up came when one of my acquaintances shared the same link that was shared almost 6 times by members of the same WhatsApp group without verifying/tapping and checking the authenticity and content of the link. We have reached a stage where we are confidently ignoring everything else what Cal Newport in his book Digital Minimalism terms as technological overload. Most of us have developed a killer instinct of sharing anything and everything that comes their way digitally.
Content available online on various social media platforms is mandated by most of us as authentic and is shared(Sold?) on FB, WhatsApp, Twitter etc. without analysing its credibility and authenticity. People obsessed with such instincts at times even share mere filth and febrile content like valid passports. “I used to be human being” written by Andrew Sullivan and published in New York Times has intricately unravelled how this sort of obsession has reduced our humanness.
Howard Rheingold (An American critic, teacher & Writer) has said that we need to develop certain skills which he calls ‘Crap Detection’ – knowledge of how to find and verify accurate, useful information in the internet age. In the age of information explosion, to assess whether the retrieved information is valid or not we need certain skills which are called Info Savvy Skills. The main things involved in crap detection are (1) Accessing the relevant information: Crucial accessing skills include: determining where the information is (sources of information), determine what skills are needs to find it, using a variety of paper and electronic sources, prioritizing searching strategies, skimming, scanning and scouring resources for pertinent data. (2) Analyzing the acquired information: Crucial analyzing skills include; organizing and summarizing data from a variety of sources, checking data for relevance, listing and distinguishing between good & bad, differentially fact from opinion etc.
In the same manner one can adopt SIFT Framework which stands for Stop , Investigate, Find and Trace.
Technology brings huge advantages to almost every sphere of life by increasing efficiency and providing opportunities for growth. We must accept new technologies that are beneficial to us but not if the price is dehumanization. Internet on hand has eased our daily processes that took weeks and months, and at the same time has given access to quality educational content to those who didn’t have the resources free of cost. Connectedness as a result of emergence of social media brings tremendous benefits but has equally powerful downsides. Research has shown that remaining excessively hooked to our phones scrolling through various reels/posts increases anxiety and depression. There are two sides of anything, one that improves our lives and it depends upon a person which side of that tech innovation one prioritises. Information dissemination and connectedness to our loved ones have been the feature of social media but with the passage of time it’s monopolising our attention span and choices. It’s leading to reel society instead of a knowledge society. There’s no harm in sharing informative content on any media platform but sharing as result of obsession to share can be termed as techno-constipation that needs to be treated before it is too late.
Techno infusion is not going away as it has almost engulfed every sphere of our lives and our approach forward should be maintaining a balance between realistic and reelistic domains.
The author can be reached at mukhtar.farooqi37@gmail.com
