Technology to the Youth; A Cursed Blessing

For eons, the world has witnessed revolutionary technologies being birthed to both the benefit and even the detriment of the society. Key among life-altering technologies is the internet. The internet is the technological ‘Everest’. In this age, the internet needs no introduction considering it runs most if not all aspects of our lives. 

The internet is an extraordinary pendulum that swings across all facets of our lives. This ranges from but limited to education, social networking, business, military and leisure. By definition, the internet is a global system of interconnected mainframe, personal and wireless computer networks that links billions of devices worldwide. Since its creation, its creators have been tirelessly finessing it so as to simplify its use and widen its reach and effects. As a result, the internet is becoming a second nature. It is rapidly falling into the category of food, shelter and clothing; basic needs.

My mother always says “The internet is both a heaven and an abyss. It is double-edged sword that cuts for good and the bad. A careful balance needs to be struck or else the cons might outweigh the pros”

The internet has consumers from all cadres of life; the rich and the poor, young and old. However, the youth make up the largest proportion of internet consumers. From studies, 97% of adolescents (aged between 12 and 18 years) and Gen Zs (aged between 18 and 24 years) use internet. 

The youth are the largest beneficiaries of technology, per se. The benefits accorded to them by the internet can be argued with but so are the risks associated with its use. There exists a fine line between the benefits and risks of internet use. 

The internet is both a heaven and an abyss. It is a doubled-edged sword that cuts for good and the bad. A careful balance needs to be struck or else the cons might outweigh the pros just like my mother says.

The internet has simplified education to the youth to unimaginable levels. Gone are the days when education used to be a preserve for the privileged. Nowadays, academic materials are just a click or a tap-on-screen away. Their availability is non-issue but rather than the willingness on the part of learners. Back in the day, academic materials were just confined to a particular physical location and mark you, they were as scarce as it could get. You could imagine the hustle that went into completing assignments.

Nowadays, COPY-PASTE offers a simple and easy fix to such. No wonder assignments are always done at the last minute. It is not uncommon for our tutors to decry our lack of creativity and laziness considering that there is no much to be improvised. The internet is the improvisation. On the same, Professor Kyalo Wa Ngula, a lecturer at Chuka University notes that, “The fact that the internet has improved immensely access to academic materials can’t be overstated. When I was a student, studying was limited by scarce resources as is not the case currently. This is a positive to the internet but at what cost? I can confidently say that such open everything is readily available. While some students are capitalizing on learning opportunities, some have become outright lazy. It is up to students to draw a line or else all the good brought by the internet could go to waste”.

Also, this easy access of information is coming with a very steep price tag. While good data can be accessed, so can bad data like pornography, violence and negative propaganda; all begging for attention.  A parent from Ruiru notes that, “I have resorted to putting filters on our home desktop and laptop so as to limit access to bad content but still know that my children can still access bad content elsewhere. I have done my best; the rest is up to the young people themselves. They need to make the right choices”. 

Social media has become a drug to the youth, a very addictive drug. It is always about Facebook, X (which was formerly Twitter), WhatsApp and Instagram. All these are a perfect embodiment of a global village. Social media is a god. Speaking to a Chuka University student named Purity Wanjiru, she notes, “I can’t believe a life without social media. It is a very simplified way of me communicating with friends both in the country and abroad. I would rather have internet bundles in my phone than airtime”. 

People who are miles apart can keep in touch as if they were in the same room. Social media has brought people who are closer to be far away. It is not strange to find people in a room as glued and smiling at their phones bur barely talking to each other. Virtual social interaction have improved at the expense of real physical interactions, the kind of communication that actually matters most. Young people spit so much game while on social media but disappoint so much when you meet them in person.

The amount spent on social media by the youth is also alarming when it comes to economic productivity. According to a study conducted by Common Sense Media, teens in the USA spend about nine hours in a day using internet media for their enjoyment; watching TV, playing video games, listening to music and checking social media. That nine hours is more than the amount of time they spend sleeping or studying. What does the future hold?

In China, suicide rates among the youth were over the roof due to internet addiction. Young people seek solace in the internet instead of real human interaction. They no longer talk with their physical friends, parents and teachers but rather than their phones, AI and the internet. How disturbing?

From analyzing the effects of internet on education and social interactions, it is more than clear that the internet is essential. It adds too much value to be ignored. But, on the flip side, its bad effects are so palpable. They are also too much to be ignored. This is a horrible reality nonetheless. Something has to be done. The youth need to exercise restraint in their use of internet. Yes, they use the internet but at no point should they allow this resource to put a noose around their necks. The internet shouldn’t be a complete substitute for life. Our lives are far too precious. Tread the thin line carefully.