Everyone is connected all the time, screens have replaced mirrors, and technology is King, however, shouldn’t the well-being of humanity be King?
While we can’t deny the benefits technology and digital advancements have bestowed on us, we find ourselves at a crossroads: letting technology take over or putting ourselves in control.
The digital paradox: A global phenomenon
In a digital age, it’s easy to lose our human touch. In that logic, maintaining our human essence amidst tech advancements is key. We achieve this through fostering genuine relationships by prioritizing real-life connections. Technology should enhance, not replace, our humanity.
The global discourse around digital well-being urges for collective action to make sure we pave the way for a healthier digital tomorrow. Scientists, innovators, academics, and industry professionals have been shedding light on what it means to be human in a digitally dominated landscape, and while many imagine a dystopian future, research is showing a promising outlook.
Ithra’s 2024 Sync Digital Wellbeing Summit brought together thought leaders in this space and opened the floor for promising and engaging discussions around the topic.
Tech laws, regulations, and the age of misinformation
As technology evolves, laws must keep pace. The need for effective tech regulations to manage the digital landscape is essential more than ever across industries.
In the 2024 Sync Digital Wellbeing Global Survey, respondents in several nations were nearly evenly divided on whether rapidly evolving technologies like AI would have positive or negative impacts. There was, however, far greater accord (71 per cent) on the need for more stringent regulations governing the development of AI, with nearly two-thirds of respondents globally (66 per cent) also advocating greater regulation of social media and other tech platforms.
Hyperconnectivity, on the flipside, amplifies misinformation, which results in an array of confusion that breeds bigger issues between digital citizens. Improving digital literacyand fostering critical thinking are key to promoting a well-informed society.
A step toward digital well-being – AI for the good of humanity
We can no longer talk about tech without bringing AI into the equation. We are noticing the positive impacts of AI in healthcare, education, creativity, and other sectors. Efficiency, faster diagnoses, and accuracy are just some of the benefits we can reap through AI.
However, industries should invest in ethical AI development, transparency, and accountability to ensure AI technologies benefit society and build public trust.
When it comes to creativity, AI holds immense potential as a catalyst for human creativity, streamlining mundane tasks and sparking new ideas. However, an over-reliance on AI might significantly hinder individual creativity.
Digital well-being – Finding humanity in virtuality
When we talk of the balance between humans and tech, the best thing we can do is use technology itself to counter its own negative effects. We are seeing this in wearables, mindfulness apps, and other solutions that champion digital well-being.
Sync and Publicis Groupe Middle East worked together to create “Lahza”, a pack of NFC-powered tags that aim to give moments back their meaning. Each tag changes the smartphone’s notification and “focus” mode to enable users to live that moment to the fullest. By tapping their phone on the sticker tag, people disconnect in an instant, to properly connect here and now.
In a world where extremes often reign, Lahza serves as a tool for balance – a reminder that technology should enhance our lives, not consume them.
Today’s actions, tomorrow’s impact
Aside from the average user and tech companies, governments and academic institutions should be major players in informing digital literacy. Schools should introduce digital well-being as part of their curricula to educate our young population, the generation most impacted by tech, on how to better live with technology. Additionally, research entities should keep on publishing studies and spreading information on the best ways to achieve digital balance.
Sync is working on several academic and research-based initiatives to help Saudi youth, and the wider Saudi population, develop healthier digital habits.
The Global Digital Wellbeing Index (DWI) is one of the initiatives that looks at how digital technology influences behavior and quality of life around the world and whether governments and individuals are equipped to get the best out of technology.
Saudi Arabia is placed 27th among the 35 countries analyzed and is the second-best performer among MENA countries. The country is stronger in “Capturing opportunities” pillars of the index, demonstrating an especially robust connectivity. “Balancing needs” pillars present some room for improvement, particularly in terms of the ability to disconnect and information quality.
In addition, the findings of the Digital Wellbeing Global Survey 2024, the largest of its kind, reveal results that alter the equation.
Compared to the findings in the Digital Wellbeing Survey Report in 2021, more people (62%) are now comfortable with how much time they spend online – 13 per cent higher than in 2021.
Where does that take us?
Research is essential to enriching our understanding of digital well-being. Joint work is also key, involving several stakeholders through more active and open research collaborations across industries to establish a healthier balance.
Digital well-being is a marathon, and understanding how to achieve it is just the start.
We should strive collectively to make it part of our daily lives and to ensure that everyone can be a better digital citizen today and tomorrow.
By Wadha Nafjan, Head of Digital Wellbeing at Ithra
