The downside of modern technology

In chapter fourteen of Thomas L. Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, he writes about the dangers of technology in the era of the internet and the advent of social media.

While technology has helped ‘flatten the world’ through increased connectivity, enabling conversations globally, he says the same has myriad negative implications. Technology, he argues, has elbowed out good old ways of interacting, ushering in a new phenomenon.

On public transport, for instance, people are busy tapping on their phones, completely zoned off from the person next to them. When they choose to speak, they do so loudly with the person on the other end of the line. Some of the things they say are outrageous.

Once, a woman seated two rows behind me on a bus from Migori to Nairobi was asking someone about the size, shape and height of some woman who was a potential wife for her brother.

“Amenona? Unajua ndugu yangu hapendi wanawake wakubwa na pia urefu lazima awe nayo... sawa... Na ni mrembo?" (Is she fat? You know my brother doesn’t like big women and she must have height... fine... And is she beautiful?).

On a different occasion, another woman on her phone said, “With this cold, I can’t spend the night alone. You better be at the stage to pick me up... yes it has been long... I know... it got to happen.”

Now, such conversations would be expected to proceed in more private places. But for these women (and many other phone users), once they are on their phones, no one else exists.

When Friedman wrote the book in 2005, he was complaining of the number of social media and micro-blogging sites. In the era of Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, the world is upended. The Communications Authority of Kenya reports internet users in the country hit nearly 20 million by the end of 2013.

Further statistics peg Facebook users in the country above 4 million, with another 1 million being active on Twitter. All these internet enthusiasts in Kenya fall between the ages of 17 and 44 years.

Back to my journey to Nairobi, a few kilometres after Narok town, flash floods cut off the road, causing a massive traffic jam.

Men and women jumped out of their vehicles and with their hand-held gadgets, clicked and recorded the incident, which they subsequently tweeted. No one bothered to co-ordinate the traffic; they all rushed to break the news to the world.

Information explosion is a phenomenon that is not going to slow down. However, many are deluded that they can read, watch and listen to every Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter post. It is impossible for the human brain.

And even if it were possible, where is the time? And even if we afforded the time, what else can be accomplished? Not much.

So we end up with a bunch of people who live and work on social media, neglecting their official jobs. It is like we have all become Twitter, Google and Facebook employees.

We are no longer doctors, accountants, preachers, farmers and teachers. Our productive age bracket has been lost to social media, or so it seems.

Friedman writes: "That level of connectivity maybe very useful if you are a stock broker, but not if you are a thinker, a professor, or an author."

It took me a minute to absorb this fact, then it hit me. My creativity, productivity and ability to think consistently have gone down substantially since I joined some social media platforms. I suspect I am not alone in this.

To improve this scenario, the author gives some suggestions: Limit the amount of time on unproductive engagements online; develop a thick skin; teach your kids about the world, that they may learn to navigate and stay safe.

It will certainly take retooling our citizens on how not to be overtaken by technology in order to maintain a productive workforce. It should be an enabler of service delivery, not a noise barrel that fills every minute of our lives. Otherwise, we will soon need rehabilitation centres to reclaim our youth!

I got home around 9pm on Saturday and plugged in the chargers. Upon switching on my handset, I got over 30 Facebook notifications, over 500 messages on WhatsApp and over 20 SMS from Safaricom.

On the laptop, my Twitter account had over 40 notifications of mentions, followers and re-tweets besides emails on the multiple addresses.

Taking the cue from Friedman's recommendations, I cleared all the notifications, called my wife and finally zoned out of social media.