How do you make technology for good?

Technology is never neutral. It is not easy to say that tech-is-for-good. Tech needs constant updates, replacements and care! In the hunt for new and cool tech, old tech suffers. So are folks stuck with old tech. Every upgrade makes the entire investment useless. New ones do not guarantee better-experience. If you are building tech how do you make-it-good and for-good?

Tech also has negative counts on equality, transparency and accountability aspects. The divide-in-society, the new fear-of-losing-out, and immersive-addictive-isolation are tech-enabled.

Earlier, companies taught people to make plans for regular-maintenance, periodic-updates and planned-upgrades. Backing it with warranties, maintenance-contracts and buy-back-schemes. Now, they are re-wiring the practice, one-device-at-a-time.

It was fascinating to show our products to our families and friends. Recommending our products with pride was part of being an Engineer. They lasted well over two-three-decades. Every time someone came-back with a part-request after a decade, we were happy to treat them with care. Customer loyalty was beyond reward-point-system.

Now with so much advancements, tools and techniques, why can’t we make tech last longer than before? If we can increase the outreach of care and life-span of people with tech, why not tech itself? Can’t tech be good for itself?

That’s the question for every tech person. If you introduce yourself as a technology person, think twice. Are you making something good for good or tinkering for good? Every line of code you write, every design marking you go-ahead-with, has a mark on this world. The amount of digital-dust we are creating is unimaginable. Where is this headed and what will it do? Who’ll clean this mess and the mess it creates? Environmental enthusiasts soon will find a new topic to pursue. Before that, it is up-to the responsible tech people, to be good.

Tech for good requires a set of fundamental guiding principles. Some of them include – Practice Essentialism. Adopt responsible-design-practices. Focus on effectiveness. Kill-short-cuts and patch-works.

Make your own tech-work-manifesto. Live by it. Pass-it-on. Make-it-a-cult. Take-an-oath when you start your work to be making-tech-for-good. May be, good-tech follows.

What is your tech-work-manifesto?

Unmasking the Economy of Deception: How Fake News Flourishes and How We Can Fight Back

In today’s digital age, the landscape of information consumption is fraught with pitfalls. From sensationalized headlines to manipulated videos, the economy of fake news and viral content thrives on engagement, often at the expense of truth and accuracy. But how do the creators of these deceptive narratives benefit, and what can we do to combat their influence?

The Business Behind Deception

Creators of fake news and viral videos reap economic rewards through various channels:

1. Ad Revenue: Every click and view translates into ad revenue, incentivizing creators to produce content optimized for maximum engagement.

2. Monetized Platforms: Programs like YouTube’s Partner Program offer creators a slice of the advertising pie, encouraging the proliferation of clickbait and sensational content.

3. Affiliate Marketing: Including affiliate links in their content allows creators to earn commissions from purchases made by viewers.

4. Sponsorships and Brand Deals: As their audience grows, creators attract sponsorships and brand partnerships, turning their influence into profit.

5. Donations and Crowdfunding: Some creators rely on the generosity of their audience, soliciting donations or running crowdfunding campaigns to support their work.

Combatting the Epidemic of Misinformation

Empowering ourselves with knowledge and critical thinking is the key to navigating this treacherous terrain:

1. Media Literacy Education: Teaching critical thinking skills equips individuals to discern credible sources from misinformation, fostering a more discerning populace.

2. Algorithmic Awareness: Understanding how algorithms prioritize content helps us diversify our media consumption and break free from echo chambers.

3. Fact-Checking Tools: Utilizing fact-checking websites and browser extensions allows us to verify information before perpetuating falsehoods.

4. Supporting Quality Journalism: Subscribing to reputable news outlets and prioritizing their reporting over sensationalist sources helps sustain the integrity of journalism.

5. Promoting Digital Hygiene: Encouraging skepticism, responsible sharing, and awareness of psychological tactics empowers individuals to resist the allure of fake news and viral content.

Let’s delve into the dark underbelly of this economy of deception and explore real-life cases that shed light on its mechanisms:

The Anatomy of Deception: Real-Life Examples

1. The Macedonian Clickbait Farms: In 2016, Macedonian teenagers were found operating fake news websites that peddled sensationalist stories targeting American audiences. They cashed in on the divisive political climate by churning out fabricated content optimized for sharing on social media. These clickbait farms demonstrated how easy it was to exploit online platforms for profit through deception.

2. The YouTube Conspiracy Peddlers: Channels promoting conspiracy theories and pseudoscience on YouTube have amassed millions of followers, attracting lucrative sponsorship deals along the way. From spreading vaccine misinformation to promoting baseless conspiracy theories, these creators profit from peddling fear and uncertainty to their audience, demonstrating the profitability of sensationalism.

3. The Rise of Influencer Scams: Influencer marketing has become a lucrative industry, but with it comes the proliferation of influencer scams. In recent years, numerous influencers have been exposed for promoting fraudulent products or services to their followers in exchange for hefty paychecks. These cases underscore the dangers of placing blind trust in online personalities without verifying the authenticity of their endorsements.

Fighting Back: Strategies for Empowerment

1. Media Literacy Initiatives: Organizations like MediaWise and News Literacy Project are leading the charge in promoting media literacy education, equipping individuals with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape.

2. Fact-Checking Coalitions: Collaborative efforts between fact-checking organizations, such as the International Fact-Checking Network, help combat the spread of misinformation by providing accurate information and debunking falsehoods.

3. Platform Accountability: Pressure on social media platforms to combat misinformation has led to the implementation of fact-checking labels and algorithmic tweaks to prioritize credible sources. However, continued advocacy is needed to hold platforms accountable for their role in amplifying misinformation.

4. Legal Action Against Bad Actors: Governments and regulatory bodies have begun taking legal action against individuals and organizations found guilty of spreading misinformation for financial gain. These measures serve as deterrents and send a clear message that there are consequences for deceptive practices.

5. Cultivating Digital Resilience: By fostering a culture of skepticism, responsible sharing, and critical engagement with online content, we can empower individuals to resist the allure of fake news and viral videos, thereby mitigating their harmful effects on society.

Conclusion: Uniting Against Deception

The fight against fake news and viral deception requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. By understanding the economic incentives driving misinformation and adopting proactive strategies to combat its spread, we can reclaim the digital landscape from the clutches of deception. Let us stand united in our commitment to truth, integrity, and responsible media consumption.

2

How to build walls in place of bridges?

Walls serve the purpose of a border, a structure for bearing the weight of what may come later. Walls create tribes, silos and gated communities. Opportunity for something precious to breed in secret.

Bridges try bringing tribes together. Help preserve the purpose of sharing and caring beyond boundaries. Opportunity to collaborate, optimise effort and maximise benefits.

Every meeting is an opportunity. Either to build a wall to safe-guard or a bridge to expand. If you feel threatened, you raise the wall. If you are in a mood to expand, you add a few more tiles to the bridge. If you have nothing to offer, there’s little you can earn through meetings. Every dull meeting is a wasted opportunity.

You are busy every hour of the day. When meetings occupy your day, you tend to delegate. First step towards building a wall in place of a bridge. Person attending on your-behalf is there to safe-guard. That’s what they believe. People on the other-side think the same. Purpose served. The wall gets its height. More job for the organiser to get them up-to-speed and later to manage the damage. When you step-in for what you are, walls get broken and bridges emerge. Less job of breaking. More for the making. Good for all.

When you delegate, make sure you delegate decision-making not attendance. Choose those who know the art of building bridges to represent you, your company and the purpose. Not those who can take notes and pass-it-on.

If you are the one organising, you know what to do. Get those who’s required. Say no to their virtual twins. If you are representing someone else, make sure you know why you are there. Prepare well and contribute to building bridges. You move-up and become remarkable.

Every meeting is an opportunity. Build a wall or a bridge. Not one in place of the other!