Is Living in a Digital World a Two Edged Sword?

1. 82

   Jacqueline4390posted 8 years ago

   
   I know that it makes paying bills, transferring money and staying in touch with relatives and friends easier but does it also make it easier for others to “spy” on us as well?
   
   A few years ago we were told to update our televisions because old “rabbit ears” would no longer work. I am referring to conventional antennas. ATT sends me emails, snail mails and calls me weekly regarding adding Uverse TV.
   
   Now my computers, smartphones and tablets can all be sync with the latest operating systems. Hmm, the digital way of life is slowly taking over (hahahahahaha! Devious laugh.) What next—tattoos on our hind-sides so doctors can just “scan us into the system?”

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   1. 82

      Jacqueline4390posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I often read a lot of negative comments people make on the different social news media. I can't help but wonder if Big Brother has devised a way of monitoring those people who speak despairingly about the current administration.

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2. 82

   Jacqueline4390posted 8 years ago

   Just a discussion prompt, folks! Haven't gone off the deep in (yet.)

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   1. 85

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I think this is a big topic, and an important one.
      
      More and more I am seeing situations where the net invades our lives and manipulates us.  Both my husband and I think that technology will be the downfall of civilization.  We feed into it like lambs to the slaughter, and one day it will totally own us.
      
      I'm not "off the deep end" either, but it is obvious that our governments have lost control of this situation and, in many instances, are unable to confront it.
      
      I worry greatly about this and am glad I am old now.  This is NOT the world I grew up in, and frankly, I like it less each day.

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      1. 82

         Jacqueline4390posted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Me, too!

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      jacharlessposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Ha. No deep end.
      
      As a technology start-up mogul, can attest, at times I wonder. But every country has different rules for data use. In the States, more recently, the powers that be were crushed by Wiki Leaks and when the laws ran out regarding sensitive data information. But, generally, every larger tech company faces the challenge of handing over information to their respective government.. and any dignified company will immediately say NO to said release. Those that are continuously bothered by governing bodies tend to find ways to hide user data. We may not be the most powerful group of businesses, but we do what we can to retain user anonymity, which the right of every global citizen.

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         Jacqueline4390posted 8 years agoin reply to this

         This is good to know!

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3. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 8 years ago

   * Just a note to say your various conversations are getting ported to the topical forums because that is where they should be started.  The Hubpages forums are for discussions are Hubpages itself.

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4. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 8 years ago

   I think the world today offers so many wonderful opportunities, there is not need to focus only on the down sides.  We have people 3D printing prosthetic devices for children, online charity driving development of deprived communities, police brutality being exposed on YouTube when it used to go unpunished, voices of hope reaching gay children at risk of suicide.
   
   There is a risk that comes with every benefit, but the benefits have been enormous. The life I live now would have been impossible just 50 years ago, and I love my life so much.  Technology has given me the gift of better expressing myself, better understanding myself, and better financial wealth.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, there are wonderful things that technology brings our way, no doubt, but I see it slowly taking over our lives and addicting us.  Years ago you never saw people glued to cell phones or computers...people actually talked to one another face to face!  They had the time to do that, because they were not addicted to computers, etc.
      
      What I really dislike is the way technology climbs into our lives.  I Googled myself the other day and was shocked to see how easy it was for someone to get all of the information about me that I had worked so hard to protect.
      
      I don't want strangers knowing where I live or how I live.  That's a dangerous place to be.  Surely there is some way to strike a balance.
      
      Finally, just as you love your life now, I loved mine 50 years ago...and I didn't need computers to make me feel that way.

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         Jacqueline4390posted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Well said!

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5. 84

   Zeph1posted 8 years ago

   Too late, they already have electronic tattoos, epidermal electronics, in the testing phase for holding medical information.

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   1. 82

      Jacqueline4390posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You're kidding?

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6. 61

   limpetposted 8 years ago

   We had to study George Orwell's 1984 in final year in high school which i found to be fascinating reading backed up by two successful movies (one in the 50's and another later).The 70's produced a rash of titles such as Soylent Green,Logan's Run, Blade Runner etc. depicting a 'dismal not to distant' future for us all. More recently i failed my bank's credit test on advice of an agency i've never heard of yet that agency persists in sending me publicity on how good they are and offering free credit checks and then getting billed later. They obtained my address from the Voter's lists.

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7. 75

   Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years ago

   Naw!

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