Barack Obama, a former U.S. president, seems to have some worrying thoughts on his mind about the habits that modern technology has created in many people.
According to Mr. Obama, social media is something that should be used carefully and in moderation, but that does not seem to be the case at the moment.
The retired politician seems particularly worried about the “information bubble” phenomenon that has been becoming a more and more active topic in discussions related to social media in recent years.
The problem as he sees it — and this is an opinion shared by many experts today — is that social media and the Internet as a whole are prone to helping people ignore opposing views or other pieces of information they either do not agree with or just do not like.
And while it is a good feeling to immerse oneself in a private sphere of information tailored specifically to our likings, it is important to remember that different opinions exist outside of that area and they are no less valid.
However, by interacting so much with computers and relying on them as our main source of information, it becomes more and more difficult to remember that, and those alternative views get pushed to the side.
This is a problem that could become very prevalent in the next few years, and it is suspected that it is already contributing to significant issues in society, including the sharp political divide that we are seeing in society recently.
And if the problem remains unchecked, it could grow into something even more threatening not too long from now.
The father of two said, “On the Internet, everything is simplified. When you meet people face to face, it turns out that people are complicated.”
Some say Obama’s statements is a dig at his successor, President Donald Trump.