Think about the ramifications of having ready access to information at all times. For
example, how does this aspect affect you and your capacity to study this subject.
What are 3 benefits and 3 negatives?
The world of information really is at our fingertips. We can connect in any number of ways; from our smartphone to our smartwatch and now even our treadmill or refrigerator.
But this world of instant, constant access really is a double edged sword. For as many areas as we excel and advance in, there are arguably an equal number of downfalls.
Even in studying this subject I have the opportunity and advantage of studying completely online in my own time. My friends and family ask, “have your studies been affected by the pandemic?”. “No”, I tell them. My degree is offered online so with study just a few keystrokes away, I have no excuses and no set backs in the current climate. But this too has its downsides. I know many of my ‘classmates’ live in rural areas and experience delays with internet service and connectivity. This represents merely a fraction of a much larger problem; the digital divide is increasing and therefore so is the divide in the information landscape.
I am so lucky to live in a first world country. I have the luxury of access to higher education and all the advantages it provides me in life. This is not so in many other countries. As they say, knowledge is power. I have the ability to access information at the press of a button. Even within Australia, many people do not have this same level of access. Without access and education, people could be more influenced by misinformation. The spread of misinformation or ‘fake news’ as some orange haired fellows like to put it, has dire consequences too.
However, having a device a hands-breadth away at all times has its ramifications too.
In 2016 the Huffington Post published an article explaining the (at the time) recent labor reforms legislation ‘encouraging companies to create laws to help employees disconnect from the office’ (Mosbergen, 2016). The article details the many damaging impacts of our new information society. Whilst we now have a whole digital world at our fingers, we are in a way, metaphorically all carrying tiny offices in our hands. With that, comes the pressure to work longer which ‘blurs the lines between private and professional life’ (New Yorker article as cited in Mosbergen, 2016).
The article goes on to explain the many health related risks associated with this culture over-connectedness. The reforms call for legislation to limit ‘spillover’ work (work that eats into our home life). This extra pressure and extra workload is leading to emotional breakdowns and burnout.
Conversely, there is the problem of overwhelm at returning to work after ‘switching off’ and being met with a barrage of emails and other tasks. It seems even by trying to step away from the tech and let home life really be our home lives we are still met with problems and emotional drain when we do return to work.
What then is the solution? It is definitely not a simple one. The new proposed legislation is a good place to start, that’s for sure, and is a step many other governments and indeed countries could take a lesson from.
The real problem, as the article surmises, is battling the culture of having to do more. It is definitely an issue we need to tackle, whilst we still can.
Reference:
Mosbergen, D. (25/05/2016) French Legislation Suggests Employees Deserve The Right To Disconnect: The provision aims to tackle work-related burnout. Huffington Post. (Australia ed.) https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/