Internet/Digital Media: The Good and Bad

Published by Emil Abraham, April 9th, 2019

Digital Media certainly has affected modern day society. It has given the consumers a vast range of information and the opportunity to learn and educate themselves. But some people may argue that the cons far outweigh the pros. While Digital media has improved they way we learn as a society, it has also caused problems.

Pros

1. Digital media facilitates social interaction and empowers people

Digital media connects people in ways never before possible, enabling users to maintain friendships across time and distance. It enables those who are socially isolated or somehow set apart from their immediate physical community to connect with like-minded or like-situated people. Digital media also facilitates interaction across social, economic, cultural, political, religious and ideological boundaries, allowing for enhanced understanding.

2. Digital media gives people a voice, increases civic participation and facilitates the creation of communities

While traditional media has long been central to informing the public and focusing public attention on particular subjects, digital media is helping to amplify the response to humanitarian crises and to support those afflicted by these crises.

3. Digital media is changing how work gets done, boosting productivity and enhancing flexibility for workers and employers

Digitization of content and data, as well as new digital communication technologies, have opened up novel opportunities for where, when, how and by whom work gets done. This is changing the nature of the employment relationship. Many jobs now can be done anywhere, at any time, facilitated by the availability of digital data, high speed internet, and better messaging, audio and video technology.

4. Digital media can facilitate education and life-long learning to build and source the skills of the future

The World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Education project identifies critical skills for the 21st century, and explores ways to address any gaps through digital platforms. The labour market increasingly demands higher-order skills, i.e. non-routine analytical and interpersonal skills. Literacy in information and communications technology, and competencies such as creative problem-solving and collaboration are among the most important. In addition, character qualities such as adaptability, and social and cultural awareness need to be developed. Building digital skills from an early age provides opportunities to successfully navigate life, improve employability and participate in society – which can help make the world a better, more equal place. Increased use of digital media is helping this process.

Digital media and technology can help to close skill gaps by supporting teaching and self-education. Learning resources can be made available to a broader audience at lower cost and higher quality. Digital media can be used to facilitate life-long learning, e.g. through embedding learning technology in widely used platforms or using digital media for communication (e.g. teaching, mentoring and coaching) between students and educators. Digital media also is increasingly used for attracting and sourcing talent, especially young, digitally savvy workers. Diverse cross-industry talent pools might be another way to meet the need for new skills while offering growth opportunities to employees.

Cons

1. Digital media can be used by communities with harmful intentions to spread propaganda and to mobilize followers

Digital media offers opportunities to spread information and organize action for good causes, but can also be used to disseminate maleficent content and propaganda, and be used, for example, by extremist groups to recruit and mobilize followers. Young adults and children are vulnerable, especially if they lack a stable social support network.

Many platforms such as Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter constantly update their terms of service and community standards to disapprove or forbid "threats of violence", "violent or gory content", "terrorist activity" or "organized criminal activity".

2. By selecting what information reaches which users, digital media can alter human decisions and pose risks to civil society

Far more content is available through digital media than any user could possibly sift through. Algorithms deployed by search engines, social media platforms and other industry participants filter this vast amount of information to make it manageable for consumers. People now have more tools to curate content. However, given the growing importance of digital media as a source of information about everything from social issues and politics to job opportunities, there needs to be transparency regarding how content is filtered and which content and advertisements are shown to which users. In some cases, filtering mechanisms have been shown to contain biases that can have a discriminatory effect.

3. The transformation of work brought about by digital media may increase inequality and lower productivity

Despite the productivity gains and opportunities of digital media to actually bridge economic gaps and reduce inequality, potential downsides still exist to the newly emerging work paradigm. As digital media transforms work by increasing fragmentation, and demand for various skill-sets rises and falls, the likelihood is very real of rising inequality in the near term as the global economy adjusts to these new realities.

4. Digital media use can change social skills – online does not replace offline

For interacting with other people, online is not the same as offline. Face-to-face interaction and communication require – and hone – a finely tuned ability to read and understand others. It promotes a sense of social connection, which is essential to the give-and-take functioning of families, communities and workplaces.

Yet a growing number of people spend more time engaged with digital media than in actual conversation.

5. Digital media consumption may facilitate bullying, harassment and social defamation

Linked to the question of empathy is that of hurtful behaviours online. Digital media has reduced the potential costs, and increased the ease of engaging in behaviours that harm either others or ourselves Hate speech, "internet trolling" and cyberbullying are serious issues.

6. Excessive digital media consumption may increase vulnerability to addiction and harm mental and physical health

Excessive digital media consumption poses a number of risks to user health and well-being. While a higher percentage of respondents in the Implications of Digital Media Survey feel that digital media is positively, rather than negatively, affecting various aspects of their lives, they are the least positive about impacts on their physical health, stress and attention span.