The Revolution Will be Televised

Who is empowered by the digital revolution and who is disempowered?

Brigitte Daniel (Pictured on the right) is the executive vice president of Wilco Electronic Systems Incorporated based in Dartmouth College New Hampshire. In June of 2015, she presented a TED talk displaying and discussing the different ways digital technology has been implemented and harnessed throughout the past and present to empower a variety of different movements, ideas, and individuals. She explains how through digital technology, the people of the world has made strides to a greater understanding of each other and a more rich and efficient environment. However, she also exposes the massive inequalities and disparities digital technology creates. She explains how, since we are a world where technology determines many aspects of our lives, those without access to technology are at an almost insurmountable disadvantage to those who do have access. Because of this, she determines that the internet is a civil right that should be provided to everyone, similar to electricity and water.

After hearing her speak I couldn't agree more with the things she was saying. Think about how many issues we have in this world today that get swept under the rug or overlooked just because they don't get the proper attention. In our world today, justice is served by hashtags. Without the proper media coverage, worldly issues go unsolved, but the media will follow whatever they believe will interest the people the most and the cumulative voice of the people is spoken through the medium of social media. So for portions of the world to not have access to this medium, their issues go unnoticed.

Also, digital technology is one of the only ways for an individual to promote oneself. The class that I write this blog for sole purpose is to promote ourselves in a world where you need a digital presence to progress fiscally. So for someone to not have access to digital technology, or not know how to harness the power of it, the world would be doing itself a disservice by disallowing that person from building and promoting their ideas for the betterment of the community around him or herself.

Monica Lewinsky is arguably the world's first victim of cyberbullying and used her TED talk to share her story. She spoke of the ridicule and humiliation she faced at the hands of the world due to the internet and warns of the dangers of cyberbullying. She ended her speech by imploring the conscious effort of those with technology to block or stop any form of internet shaming that occurs in the world.

So what are the possible short term and long term solutions?

The solution for both cyberbullying and digital inequalities comes from the same action. Create a world where everyone has access to technology and create opportunities for people to know how to use it.

Allowing this immediately shortens the disparities between those who have access to those who don't. In doing this there is also a bigger platform for communication so people understand the thoughts and actions of others. Creating less of an opportunity for insensitive comments and a bigger platform for dialogue and conversations of understanding.