With the year 2021 fast approaching, all of us earthians have to embrace the global new norms. Other than pandemic, humankind faces lots of other challenges. Let me jot down two of my severe concerns.
One is the misuse and abuse of personal data as well as the “too free” internet envrionment. It is not a secret that we are monitored and stalked by tech companies through apps, so we can be targeted by various commercial ads. How come if we are targeted for criminal and evil use? As stated in the book “Targeted”, Cambridge Analytica analyzed the posts and likes of Facebook users, then identified and targeted the group of swing people to achieve political goal. No adult would like to admit he or she has been brainwashed, yet it did happen without being noticed. Is there any way to restrict this target behaviour? Also, with the rapidly developed technology, do we have the technology to break in “deep web” and bitcoin-supported black market? In short, We can’t let apps shape the values of young generation, and we have to protect humankind from being divided and radicalized.
The other is the environmental crises. Wild fires in U.S., in Amazon, in Australia, in Siberia took turns to occupy the headline. Lots of animals died and lost their habitats, tons of carbons were emitted into the atmosphere, and global warming got increased. Québec just had its hottest November since weather record began. In the last August, “the last fully intact ice shelf in the Canadian Arctic has collapsed, losing more than 40 per cent of its area in just two days at the end of July”. Many Arctic animals lost their habitats, and doubtlessly, earth temperature will continue going up. Not to mention deforestation in Amazon rainforest, which was destroyed for farming and mining. We are losing biodiversity in the earth, something will never come back again. Can we pass on the beautiful scenery to our next generations so they can appreciate the mighty nature as we do? I am not sure.
Optimists say humans always have solutions to the pressing issues. Well, I sincerely wish the price tag of these solutions are not quite astounding.