The Digital Ecosystem

The Digital Age, also called the Information Age, refers to the period starting in the late 20th century when digital technology, such as computers, the internet and later smart phones became central to human life. The Digital Age transformed how human access information, communicate and work shifting economies from industrial production to knowledge and data-driven systems. In 1969, the foundation of the modern Internet was created. The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network ARPANET was created. The development of the transistor allowed computer chips to drastically shrink in size, which allowed computer engineers to make more powerful machines in smaller packages. This paved the way for machines that consumers could easily keep in their homes. At the time, most computers were difficult to use and were marketed toward hobbyists and computer engineers. The first successful personal computer, the Apple 1, was designed for the average consumers. Soon Microsoft, one of Apple’s strongest competitors, began manufacturing and selling personal computers. The two companies quickly advanced the field of personal computing. Benefits of the Digital Age. With the advent of the smart phone, individuals could search the Internet on a portable personal computer at any time. The United Nations states that the digital age offers immense benefits, primarily increased efficiency, instant global connectivity and unparallel access to information. Technologies can help make our world more just. Digital advances can support and accelerate achievement of each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals from ending extreme poverty to reducing maternal mortality. Social media allowed consumers to share their lives in ways that had never before been possible. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter now X, YouTube, WhatsApp and other platforms allowed consumers to keep in contact with hundreds of individuals at once while sharing and documenting photographing videos, and personal events. The digital age has transformed healthcare from an episodic, in-person model to a proactive, continuous, and patient-centric system. Key impacts include the proliferation of telehealth, Artificial intelligence (AI) driven diagnostics, electronic health records (EHRs), and wearable health trackers such as smart watches and heart pacemakers, which collectively improve access, efficiency, and personalized care while empowering individuals to manage their own health. A heart pacemaker is a small, implantable medical device, typically placed under the skin near the collarbone that uses electrical pulses to regulate a slow or irregular heartbeat. It consists of a pulse generator and leads that monitor the heart, only delivering impulses when necessary. As consumers or users of the Internet we should be aware of our Digital Footprint. A digital footprint is the unique, often permanent trail of data including website visits, social media posts, emails, and online purchases created by an individual or organization while using the internet. Digital footprint comprises both active data intentionally shared and passive data collected without the user's direct knowledge, such as cookies or browsing history. Problems Associated with the Digital Age. Undoubtedly, the Digital Age brought numerous benefits to the average person, it also brought problems. Many individuals are overwhelmed with information, which can make it difficult to know what requires attentions and what should be ignored. Not all the informational distributed through social media sites and elsewhere on the Internet is accurate or true. On the other hand, technologies can also threaten privacy. Many of the people left behind are women, the elderly, persons with disabilities or from ethnic or linguistic minorities and residents of poor or remote areas. Globally, the proportion of women using the internet is 12 per cent lower than of men. Gender and Digital Inclusion. Digital transformation provides new opportunities for the empowerment of women and girls. However, societal and cultural biases often are hurdles to the inclusion of women in the digital ecosystem. Despite progress in recent years, the digital gender divide persists, with women in low- and middle-income countries being 15 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet. Closing this digital gender gap in access and use of digital technologies is critical for inclusive development. Digital technologies can facilitate access to education and information, expand economic opportunities, and help women overcome mobility constraints. By 2015, the number of Internet users had surged to more than 3 billion people. It is estimated that by 2024, the number of Internet users will reach 5.5 billion, more than half the global population. Digital Violence. Digital violence has grown exponentially over the years. Digital violence is spreading at an alarming speed fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and the absence of effective laws and accountability. It now spans every corner of the Internet from online harassment and cyber stalking to doxing, non-consensual image sharing, deep fakes, and disinformation, to silence, shame, and the intimidation of women and girls. According to World Bank data, fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyber stalking. This leaves 44 per cent of the world’s women and girls 1.8 billion without access to legal protection. The United Nations states that Women in leadership, business, and politics face deep fakes, coordinated harassment, and gendered disinformation designed to drive them to deplatform or leave public life altogether. Across the world, one in four women journalists report online threats of physical violence, including death threats. The Digital Age is an exciting period of history. We are now witnessing and using many of the gadgets featured in futuristic movies. The world must be intentional that the digitalization process does not widen the digital divide. It is only by prioritizing the unique needs of women that the digital ecosystem will be reflective of the contributions, creativity and participation of women. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©