“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” — nelson mandela
It's a bold move to begin an article with a nod to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's educational recommendations and Nelson Mandela's timeless wisdom. However, the importance of education in all aspects of life cannot be overstated. It is at the heart of our society, driving engagement, fostering learning, informing decision-making and increasing opportunity and employment. Yet, we overlook the importance of educating society about the nuances of technology's pros and cons. In doing so, they are creating problems for the technology industry itself. The more technology permeates our lives, the more policymakers around the world will closely monitor whether it is used safely and ethically.
In this latest edition of our ByteWise Insights series, we continue to examine the impact of technology on our existence and explore potential remedies through public policy. In the first installment of this series, we explored the broader digital landscape and advocated for a unified global strategy. In subsequent sessions, he called for regulation of election advertising to protect the sanctity of the democratic process and encouraged the digital advertising industry to help support quality journalism. This latest work addresses the important issue of increasing technological knowledge across society. Equipping people may help avoid poorly designed regulations that, while well-intentioned, can be overly restrictive and reactive.
Have you ever felt like “buzzword bingo” at a technology conference?
You are not alone. We've all heard buzzwords like 5G, AI, big data, blockchain…the list goes on. Just wait until we get to quantum computing and augmented reality!
The truth is, any industry with cutting-edge technology loves to flaunt shiny new terms. Due to this, two groups are often formed in society. Early adopters trying to jump on the bandwagon and those left behind feeling confused and overwhelmed. problem? We lack extensive education on new technologies. Marketing bombards us with these buzzwords and makes us feel like: need Latest gadgets. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic right now. AI has been around for some time to power many of the services we use every day. For example, voice assistants on your mobile device or smart speaker, or recommendations you receive on streaming platforms. ChatGPT (other chatbot services available!) has pushed AI into the mainstream spotlight, and advances in AI (such as Generative AI and GenAI) are becoming a hot topic in healthcare, sales and marketing, finance, customer, and more. It will certainly revolutionize almost every industry, including the field. service. But what does it mean for our lives? Do we even know yet? In fact, understanding what these words mean is key to understanding our ever-evolving world of technology, even if we don't yet know what their practical day-to-day implications are.
Buzzwords are a double-edged sword. They create excitement in the market, spark debate between industries and companies, and attract investors. And make no mistake, they also tempt early adopters. Like it or not, it remains the same. But there are important issues and perhaps unintended consequences that are often overlooked. That means some policymakers around the world may overreact and introduce legislation to address potential risks before they materialize. This can stifle innovation and hinder the potential of technology to benefit society.
Building on our previous article, AI's role in spreading misinformation and disinformation is a pressing concern for the 2024 elections and will impact voters around the world. It will be interesting to see how policymakers address this challenge.
Digital fluency is more than digital literacy
Many countries around the world, such as Taiwan and Finland, are incorporating digital literacy into their school curricula. There are also some great educational resources. For example, the UK advertising and media industry's Media Smart program helps young people, teachers and parents understand and critically evaluate the world of commercial messaging. The same goes for efforts to support sectors of society that feel left behind. For example, the Australian government has devised a campaign to improve digital literacy among older people.
Mastering digital tools is important for navigating the online world, but technology education goes beyond that. Certainly, being proficient in the use of technology is essential today, but a balanced and critical perspective is equally important. However, the technology industry often prioritizes rapid development over user education. The idea of ”acting fast and breaking things” rarely extends to helping people understand the impact of new technologies or building safety nets. Catchy slogans are no substitute for responsible innovation.
Case Study: Digital Advertising Value Exchange
For nearly 10 years, I have been deeply involved in digital advertising public policy at the Internet Advertising Bureau UK (IAB UK). In retrospect, we failed to educate people about the concept of “value exchange,” in which data-driven advertising funds the content and services people enjoy online for free or for a small fee. This failure to make claims, coupled with a lack of transparency and weak data protection, has naturally led to stricter regulations such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). At a recent advertising industry event, major publishers echoed this sentiment and called for more education on this value exchange. They're right, but it's 10 years too late. Today, we live in a “privacy-first” digital world, which forces business models to adapt. Companies that protect people's personal data will likely thrive.
However, perhaps with better education, the online regulatory environment for digital advertising would be less dependent on strict consent laws. We now realize that asking for consent to things like frequency capping and measurement of ads and tackling ad fraud (where people's online activities are not tracked) may have gone too far. Ironically, a privacy-first approach also empowers Big Tech, depriving it of advertising revenue that previously funded valuable content like news. Again, a subject for another post.
Examples of global technology education campaigns
Given the ubiquitous impact of technology, a global campaign is needed Industry support is guaranteed. We have seen success in government efforts to increase voter participation and raise public awareness (think COVID-19 campaigns). . Recognizing the social importance of technology, some countries are pioneering digital literacy initiatives. However, these efforts need to be scaled up and expanded to equip people with the critical thinking skills they need to effectively negotiate the digital world.
Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of age, is comfortable using technology. This is not just about bridging the generation gap. Perhaps it is not practical due to the huge demand for public funding, but a comprehensive digital fluency campaign will help you understand how technology works, its impact on society, and the latest innovations. People will understand.
Triple win: investing in digital fluency for everyone
This will create a ripple effect. People will become more aware of the potential of technology, and policymakers will be able to better understand the digital environment and create rules and regulations that benefit everyone. Ultimately, investing in digital fluency is a win-win for governments, businesses, and society as a whole.
This article was first published new digital era.
Nick Stringer is a world-renowned technology, public policy and regulatory advisor who has made significant contributions to the international application of brand safety standards.he is the chairman mobile game intelligence — The mobile gaming industry's global voice to policymakers and regulators, and interim CEO of the mobile gaming industry International Social Gaming Association. His extensive experience includes being a former Director of Regulation at the Internet Advertising Bureau UK (IAB UK).Follow him for more details linkedin, Twitter/X, Moderate, thread or substack.
