Opinion / Columnist
Information technology a friend or a foe?
25 Jul 2017 at 16:01hrs | Views
This 21st century has seen a huge influx of information technology systems and applications. However, Information Technology is a mixed bag as it is neither a friend nor a foe, largely depending on the users.
May I hasten to say that, Youths around the globe have proved to spend much of their time on social sites and enjoying internet services. Twitter, Instagram, Skype, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, WhatsApp etc are not bad platforms in as much as they remain unused or are used responsibly.
The negative of these applications can only be made possible by the irresponsible user. Discipline is very essential here. Youths ought to discipline themselves and that is no secret that they are abused by social sites they spend time on.
Where discipline lacks, not much can be achieved and that is a fact!
Youths of today cannot get away for a while from their phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers and busy themselves checking trends that do not add them in anyway.
It is quite disheartening that the technology is fast increasing whilst as youths we are fast diminishing. It only takes a critical mind to take that into cognisance.
What I have learnt over the ages is that men with big Televisions sit in front of them to watch men with big libraries!
You spend most of your time checking out latest models, fashion trends, movies, songs, tweets from popular personnel whilst there is absolutely nothing to check out on you. My goodness this is disinvestment! It is not showy or rather flashy to be in the know of trends that add nothing to you. It is flashier to work towards being checked out for one day!
Failure to understand that following all "big guys" on Instagram and joining them on LinkedIN is not an achievement. It is easy to follow someone than to lead for leading requires wisdom and following is all about conformity. Nothing less nothing more!
I encourage those of my very own, youths all over to work towards your own greatness and not to be fancied by trivial things.
Cyber addiction is deadly among youths. Some are even into cybersex, sending explicit messages and pictures via the internet. What for and why? Can youths like us of this caliber stoop so low and fall for this? My answer to this is NO.
The 2 hours you spend on some stupid staff can be 2 hours of investment, put your time into good use. Wake up and Smell the coffee, oh YES! You cannot afford to let information systems and applications take advantage of you.
Information Technology has proved to be an enemy of the youths. 90% of the time , busy on the internet, getting yourself glued to the internet, it is disheartening that eyes get sore, ears deafened by the day due to earphones plugged in all day. What's that really?
Let us not be disvalued by the influx of IT systems and applications. A number have even gone to the extent of losing lives due to excessive focus on Information Technology whilst cooking, crossing busy roads, driving and so forth. This is getting way too much, let us be responsible as youths and not to be slaves to this IT menace.
Some parents too have limited time on their families, much time allocated to Information Technology Systems and Applications. The social fabric is broken. Even pre – scholars seem to enjoy more on their smart phones than to hang around with their parents.
I have witnessed a number of people who forego to wash their bodies, feed themselves, do their work, cook their meals on time, sweep their houses, change diapers all in the name of being glued to some social platforms. This is utterly pathetic. We need to have a new approach to this lest we degenerate ourselves slowly but surely.
Why are we not interested in using social media to advertise our businesses? to empower one another, spread the Word of God, discuss business, acquire knowledge, and communicate with family and friends away from us,
why cant we research and enrich our minds from a bigger network of ideas?
Let us be renewed in our thinking, let us be revolutionized in our approach. Yes we need that more than ever. Information Technology can be a friend to us youths. Let us fill in the digital divide existential between our generation and the older generation. Let not Information Technology Systems result in our own underdevelopment by creating youths who are not serious with employment. There is farming out there waiting for us, mining, construction etc.
We are not going to lose our morals, our culture by falling prey to Information Technology Systems and Applications. A big NO for that! We need resolute youths, youths who use Information Technology with utmost responsibility!
The onus is on You, the onus is on US, the onus is on ME!
Together we make it. NO to cyber addiction and abuse,
NO to time wasting on Information systems and applications.
Let us use this Information Age lucratively lest we cry fowl over our very own degeneration!
Article written by Patricia Masiyakurima, 3rd Year Student in the Department of Politics and Public Management, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.
May I hasten to say that, Youths around the globe have proved to spend much of their time on social sites and enjoying internet services. Twitter, Instagram, Skype, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, WhatsApp etc are not bad platforms in as much as they remain unused or are used responsibly.
The negative of these applications can only be made possible by the irresponsible user. Discipline is very essential here. Youths ought to discipline themselves and that is no secret that they are abused by social sites they spend time on.
Where discipline lacks, not much can be achieved and that is a fact!
Youths of today cannot get away for a while from their phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers and busy themselves checking trends that do not add them in anyway.
It is quite disheartening that the technology is fast increasing whilst as youths we are fast diminishing. It only takes a critical mind to take that into cognisance.
What I have learnt over the ages is that men with big Televisions sit in front of them to watch men with big libraries!
You spend most of your time checking out latest models, fashion trends, movies, songs, tweets from popular personnel whilst there is absolutely nothing to check out on you. My goodness this is disinvestment! It is not showy or rather flashy to be in the know of trends that add nothing to you. It is flashier to work towards being checked out for one day!
Failure to understand that following all "big guys" on Instagram and joining them on LinkedIN is not an achievement. It is easy to follow someone than to lead for leading requires wisdom and following is all about conformity. Nothing less nothing more!
I encourage those of my very own, youths all over to work towards your own greatness and not to be fancied by trivial things.
The 2 hours you spend on some stupid staff can be 2 hours of investment, put your time into good use. Wake up and Smell the coffee, oh YES! You cannot afford to let information systems and applications take advantage of you.
Information Technology has proved to be an enemy of the youths. 90% of the time , busy on the internet, getting yourself glued to the internet, it is disheartening that eyes get sore, ears deafened by the day due to earphones plugged in all day. What's that really?
Let us not be disvalued by the influx of IT systems and applications. A number have even gone to the extent of losing lives due to excessive focus on Information Technology whilst cooking, crossing busy roads, driving and so forth. This is getting way too much, let us be responsible as youths and not to be slaves to this IT menace.
Some parents too have limited time on their families, much time allocated to Information Technology Systems and Applications. The social fabric is broken. Even pre – scholars seem to enjoy more on their smart phones than to hang around with their parents.
I have witnessed a number of people who forego to wash their bodies, feed themselves, do their work, cook their meals on time, sweep their houses, change diapers all in the name of being glued to some social platforms. This is utterly pathetic. We need to have a new approach to this lest we degenerate ourselves slowly but surely.
Why are we not interested in using social media to advertise our businesses? to empower one another, spread the Word of God, discuss business, acquire knowledge, and communicate with family and friends away from us,
why cant we research and enrich our minds from a bigger network of ideas?
Let us be renewed in our thinking, let us be revolutionized in our approach. Yes we need that more than ever. Information Technology can be a friend to us youths. Let us fill in the digital divide existential between our generation and the older generation. Let not Information Technology Systems result in our own underdevelopment by creating youths who are not serious with employment. There is farming out there waiting for us, mining, construction etc.
We are not going to lose our morals, our culture by falling prey to Information Technology Systems and Applications. A big NO for that! We need resolute youths, youths who use Information Technology with utmost responsibility!
The onus is on You, the onus is on US, the onus is on ME!
Together we make it. NO to cyber addiction and abuse,
NO to time wasting on Information systems and applications.
Let us use this Information Age lucratively lest we cry fowl over our very own degeneration!
Article written by Patricia Masiyakurima, 3rd Year Student in the Department of Politics and Public Management, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.
Source - Patricia Masiyakurima
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