An evil necessity
The internet makes people more aware and informed. Today, information is merely a click or a Google search away, but I think that consciously consuming information is a behavioural strategy that one needs to adopt and develop.
The World Wide Web is only 23 years old, but there is reasonable evidence available to confirm that even in the age predating personal computers, the internet and tablets, people were overloaded with information. I don’t think that it is prudent to say that this access to excessive information is making us ignorant or leading to useless and unverified information. In my opinion, it is wise to understand that this overload can lead to performance degradation, stress and depression, and it is therefore imperative to find effective ways to deal with the information tide because it is an ‘evil necessity’ of the times.
In today’s world, the huge pool of information actually brings people closer together. It connects them and it creates a network of determined individuals with a cause. Clearly the role of information and communications technology is driven and measured by its performance and potential. Active efforts must be taken for global inclusiveness with a focus on real innovations and new challenges enabling a fair and verified information resource pool available for all.
From Ms Simran Vedvyas
Dubai
Use responsibly
I agree to some extent that the internet has the potential to make us more ignorant with the bombardment of information. I think that when it comes to Facebook, the internet is making people more unaware and ignorant. For example, I saw a message spread in social media that the national anthem of India has won the best anthem in the world award by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This was a fake message and it has been circulating around Facebook for the past eight years. To date, this post has gotten millions of likes.
Several miscreant politicians use social media to spread hate messages to instigate common masses against any particular community. One day a message was spread that Honey Singh, an Indian pop singer, was dead in a car accident. Many people were expressing their condolences without even trying to verify it. I had just Googled the same topic and found it was a hoax. So, the main problem is our mindset and sense of responsibility. If we are responsible and act sensibly, then, indeed social media and internet are a boon to mankind. Hence, a judicious use of such technology with proper caution is the need of the hour.
From Dr Khaja Mohtesh Amuddin
India
Verifying content
We are bombarded with information that sometimes contradicts itself. We have to be very careful in handling the information that we get from the internet. With the speed in which information is changing, there are times when we are not aware of what we gather, and this message needs to get out particularly to our children who surf a lot on the internet these days. Children are continuously reading items that are not verified and lots of them agree and believe what they read. That is why I still encourage them to read books instead. First, because the information is complete and second, because they can always share it with any adult to verify its content.
Mr Albert Gayo
Dubai
Interpreting information
Internet information makes us more informative on an everyday basis, but we should be careful with what information we believe is true. It depends on the person’s capability to understand things: we all have a choice on whether we choose to believe in something.
The harder it gets to explain something, the more you will explore it so that you can try to understand. We are curious by nature and we are always seeking out more knowledge and experiences. I think it depends on how a person interprets information.
From Mr R. J. Bacudio
Manama, Bahrain
Defining reality
There is no such thing as a noise free medium of spreading communication. Take the example of the Gulf News Facebook debate question on the page: do you think everyone will give an answer that will satisfy everyone? The answer is no.
What is reality? Information in your environment defines what is reality. For example, people staying in the Middle East are more concerned with what is happening in Iraq and Israel than what scientists have achieved in North Pole. So reality is also defined by proximity.
From Mr Tom Thounaojam
Mêdog County, Papua New Guinea
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