Technology and capitalism: these are two very interesting subjects. There’s no denying that technology has brought many benefits to our lives. There was a time when telephones didn’t exist, making it difficult to communicate with our distant loved ones. But thanks to cell phones, communication has become quicker and easier. Technology has made great strides in less than 100 years, for which we are sincerely grateful.
The damaging influence of capitalism
However, when you combine two good things, you don’t necessarily get good results. Capitalism, in its current form, has become very different from what it was in the beginning; at least the idea behind it was laudable, but in practice it’s nothing of the sort. It’s no longer simply a question of free trade, because free trade existed long before the advent of capitalism. Today, capitalism is focused on mass production and profit maximization. Bosses aim to produce as many products as possible to make as much money as possible, and workers are often exploited on low wages.
We’ve entered a form of modern slavery, where we work for someone else in exchange for a wage that only allows us to meet our basic needs. We give our time, our most precious asset, from 9am to 5pm, to pay for our accommodation, our bills and our daily needs. And after 40 years of work, our pension may lose its value due to inflation.
Read: Concerns persist about data privacy and trust in WhatsApp
The harmful influence of technology
Unfortunately, technology has also brought its share of negative effects. Artificial intelligence makes our lives easier, but reduces our ability to think. Humans are becoming weaker and weaker mentally, as we rely on apps like Siri to answer our questions instead of looking for the answers ourselves. We no longer read books, we no longer spend time in nature, we lose the ability to socialize and make real friendships.
Cash is becoming obsolete, as money transfers via telephone have become commonplace. But few people question the negative consequences of this facility. When we interact with machines and artificial intelligence, we lose the human dimension. Bankers and physical assistants are becoming fewer and fewer, and we find ourselves locked into a digital system that shows no empathy and judges a case on the basis of codes pre-programmed by strangers.
Modern capitalism: when human life no longer has value
Modern capitalism focuses on mass production, regardless of the consequences. We produce tomatoes in industrial quantities, even if this means using dangerous pesticides. As long as it generates profits, health risks don’t matter. Take Lockheed Martin Corporation, for example, a government-independent firearms manufacturer. Does this company, subsidized by the rich, really seek world peace? War and arms sales are often linked to capitalism.
Read: Russian dolphin spies: a shocking new revelation about the use of animals in warfare
Influences that are gradually having an impact on the African mentality. The importance of staying awake in a rapidly changing technological world
In Africa, Africans have a different mentality. They have always been ready to help those in need. It used to be that you could knock on someone’s door without difficulty and be welcomed with open arms. They lived well, and considered everyone as their own family. But this mentality has changed with the growing influence of capitalism. Technology offers us many advantages, but it also brings negative aspects. Social networks, like Instagram, make us dream of imaginary lives and distance us from reality. The greatest danger facing human beings today is artificial intelligence. North Korea has set itself apart precisely to avoid this influence.
It’s time to reflect and rediscover simplicity and sobriety in our lives. We mustn’t let the dream of a better life blind us. The information is there, but we’re not looking for it in the right place. We spend our time looking at things that may not matter much. Meanwhile, important events are taking place elsewhere in the world without our paying any attention.
We may be headed for our own destruction by people inspired by interests that are not our own. It’s time to wake up and question the world we live in.
Totally inspired by Zack Mwekassa’s video
