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| BraLoD said: But as I write far too much once again, in resume I still think what we have built, achieved and have access now, thanks to the internet on all this years, is still a big positive in the balance, the balance is clearly shifting to the other side now, but it takes time to outweight all the historical and current benefits. |
No doubt, having all this information at your fingertips, easily cross referenced is amazing.
It's a double edged sword though. While I understand the world, history and especially geopolitics much better thanks to the internet, I'm also far more aware how little I can do about it all. Sometimes I do think ignorance is bliss :/
The internet has also made people more scared of each other. It's much safer nowadays compared to the 80s, yet due to the vast and instant availability of bad news, the perception is the opposite. Imo also a driving factor in the global shift towards fascism or rather authoritarian populism. Fear drives people into the hands of a strongman, populist leaders.
Would all the fearmongering about immigrants and Islam be as productive without the internet?
"the problem is how this information is being used and manipulated"
The issue here is confirmation bias and self censorship. All information is still available on the internet, there is some censorship yet for now there's simply too much for anyone to control. That is until everything goes through an AI censor :( But why bother, people censor themselves already by sticking to what's familiar, ignore what challenges their belief. Instead of your neighbor telling you wth are you on about, you get a like on the internet for your nonsense.
I guess the question is as hard to answer as whether splitting the atom has been a net positive or negative for humanity.
But how to teach kids how to use the internet responsibly.
One thing AI can do is fact check every post on the internet. Instead of a like button, a truth 'score' and consensus percentage. Click on it to get the lay down how it got there, what the general consensus is, the facts and what counter examples there are.
Of course those making AI seem to have the opposite in mind :(
