Day 016. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
A Millennial's Digital Detox Diaries: Is technology neutral or biased?
If you’re new here or just dropping by, welcome!
This October, I am writing a daily series (Mondays through Fridays) chronicling my eighth time on an Instagram sabbatical. I’ve welcomed this annual ritual since 2016, but this year, I am doing my longest departure and documenting my daily insights for you.
I can’t promise what each day will bring ;)
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Stay tuned—for a little while—to see what I’ll create.
Access previous editions here.
Is technology neutral or biased?
As I reflect on the role social media plays in our lives, a thought keeps circling in my mind:
It’s neither good or evil.
But, coloured by human nature.
Though, we also know our world isn’t so black and white. We know technology can be biased, because technology is often a mirror to us, and we know humanity is biased.
Since ChatGPT’s introduction, the world is awakened to the kind of artificial intelligence that now exists.
There’s been endless discussions about how AI differs from us. The matter of ethics is often what’s at the forefront of these discussions.
Our moral compass is innately human, it’s a knowing that’s learned through experience, culture, history, and environments—all things that are very human.
Can artificial intelligence—or what Yuval Noah Harari calls ‘alien intelligence,’ a force so foreign it’s truly alien—truly differentiate between moral choices with genuine understanding?
Does artificial intelligence know the difference between wrong or right?
Can a self-governing AI agent grasp the human nuances around moral considerations? Can AI grapple with the complexities of making morale decisions, in the face of conflicting circumstances? Is AI capable of morality like us?
These questions shines a light on an important characteristic in us, morality is unique. In fact, its execution is never perfect.
We are a species that can entertain different outcomes before taking action. We are people who can contemplate about what we might do before we do them. But, whether we are always ‘right’ and whether we can always act on the side of morality and the greater good in every situation is relative.
So if even humanity has an imperfect understanding and execution of morality, then what about AI?
There’s legacy and history intertwined with the moral compass we uphold.
Our understanding that killing living beings feels wrong.
Our comprehension that causing misery to one another feels wrong.
Our inclination to feel good about kindness and cooperation over destruction and violence.
These are all determined by subjective feelings and emotions, not absolute truths. There are no unbreakable guidelines to follow. If a universal guideline existed, engineers could code them into AI as safeguards— but such certainties remain elusive.
When faced with the complexity of morale decisions, which can cause ripples of impact in the world, we must ask: Is AI equipped to comprehend the intricacies involved, to lead to the best, most moral outcome? By what benchmark are its decisions based? Is this type of nuanced understanding exclusive to humans?
But, technology is neutral.
It’s how we use technology that changes its relationship and impact.
The same can be said of Instagram and social media.
How can we use social media, like Instagram, to work to our advantage? How can Instagram become a value add to society instead of a distraction? How can we use social media as a tool for empowerment instead?
A couple of truths come to mind:
Perhaps, then, we need to be mindful of what we focus on—offline, and online.
The things we write about, repost, and create. The things we subscribe, support, and encourage. It all compounds and contributes to the collective consciousness; not only of what exists online, but also as a mirror to humanity’s condition.
My brother asked me what all my efforts here are for? What’s the objective?
Cautious of not sounding too cheesy, I want to declare my intentions out loud.
I—like Elle Griffin— aspire to be a voice that dreams of a better future.
“If we want to build a better future, we need writers to imagine it. Who engage in intellectual inquiry and spend their leisure, not as journalists documenting the problems but as thinkers coming up with solutions. Who research generative ideas for governance, economics, technology, and religion through essays and fiction.”
Admits the chaos, doomsday scenarios, fighting, complaining—where the negativity is what commands attention and gain the highest engagement— I choose to stand with the opposition.
I want to add value, pay it forward, and spread positivity to counter the darkness in our world.
If all my efforts results in days like today, then every hour and effort will be worthwhile.
Listening to intuitive nudges— I obeyed— allowing myself to play (a little). What I found was inspiration to create digital bouquets! (Pictured above).
Compelled by something ‘other,’ I am beaming with joy; I added something beautiful in the world today.
Day 015. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
If you’re new here or just dropping by, welcome!
Day 014. Breaking the Scroll: 91 Days Off Social Media & Rediscovering Life IRL
If you’re new here or just dropping by, welcome!
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Thank you for spending some of your day with me.