With Great (Cyber) Power Comes Great (Collective) Responsibility

We have all seen the differential dosage instructions printed on medicinal drugs; the adult dose is not by far similar to that for the young. This is true for nearly everything we expose our young ones to. What about the digital content? When the content is based on individual preference and driven by algorithms, each user is literally a lonely island. Parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, no longer share a common viewing, despite sitting next to each other, they are distant, to each their own.

As the audience mass is varied so is the individuality of each user. Hence, the digital content available on the internet is individualistic, catering to needs, preferences and discretions of the users. In this context many have advocated in favour for the need of cyber censorship. Those opposing said censorship have advocated for free will and freedom of choice. Both sides of the debate have valid arguments, no doubt; but the all pervading need of the hour seems to be cyber awareness. What to share, how much to share, what to watch and what to mark as ‘not for all’. It’s a collective responsibility. When at the helm, it is our responsibility to mark the content accordingly. One mistake can send the boat off route, or worse sink it.

Cyber stalking and cyber bullying are common terms nowadays. In this perspective cyber sensitive netizens use advanced privacy settings and protective measures offered by various digital content platforms; be it social media or OTT platforms. Adults, especially parents who are aware of the problems that come with digital freedom are often careful about their content exploration. In households where children, teens, and young adults access their parents’ phones for digital content, the algorithm does not adapt according to the age of the user; it just enables one to scroll, one after another. It makes one question, am I viewing what I want; or am I being made to view what I am viewing?

One may argue that digital content portals screen and filter content based on sensitivity. But that too is left to the user to overlook, especially in majority of the cases where youngsters consume content on their parents’ devices. And curiosity mostly has the best of us. Well that’s how we’ve come so far, from hunter gatherers to thinkers and pioneers.

But as nuanced the digital content exposure problem is, similarly nuanced is the solution. Merely awareness and child lock may not be enough. A section of the digital population is first generation learners, where the parental supervision is out of the option. Again urban digital population often falls prey to cyber frauds and comes across unwanted content. It is therefore a collective responsibility of all users across the spectrum of the internet. Much of the high school essays most of us wrote debating on whether technology and science being a boon or curse seems to be coming alive these days. Is the digital content like what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were to Hamlet? 
We may sign up for free; but it is time to ask, what is the cost we’re bearing.
#cybersecurity #cybercrime #cybersafetytips  #onlineera #technology #science  #awarness