On A Mission

As she tucked a section of her jet-black hair behind her ear, Kiran’s eyes stayed locked on the open box of wearable smart glasses. She was rummaging with increasing fervor for the hot pink chipped pair that promised to satisfy both her curiosity and flair for fashion. Kiran lives in Hiware Bazar, a rural village in Maharashtra, India. 

While listening to a podcast by Mark Zuckerberg about wearable technology and a future that will use glasses like smart phones, I was engrossed. Just imagine the possibilities for developing countries that could receive shipments of used tech portables in the same way they have reused computers for knowledge. Only this developing portable technology promises to respond to voice prompts and hand signals. 

At the fast pace technology is moving, it may not be too long before smart phones become akin to televisions with antennas and the old school methods of communication where information was controlled by a select few.  

Social media’s intent is engagement and interactivity through user-generated content, a complete 180 from where we have come. While watching someone’s user-generated cat video in our social media feed might be entertaining, did we always intend to see hard core news in such close proximity to frivolous content? 

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study that looked at how U.S. adults consume news, Search has become the second most popular access point for finding news and regardless of source, consumers are using digital devices to access news from multiple channels. 

The following headline appeared in another 2023 Pew Research Center study examining Social Media consumption by U.S. adults: 

“YouTube and Facebook are by far the most used online platforms among U.S. adults; TikTok’s user base has grown since 2021.”

2023 Pew Research Center study

What is also noteworthy is our appetite for video has far surpassed the written word as attention spans diminished.

In an election year where U.S. politicians rely on social media to carry the water for their campaign messages, the stakes are high as credible sources must rise up from the proliferation of fake news. Understanding social media usage by demographic, especially segments that are growing in size and power, like the Hispanic population will allow for focused messaging that enables politicians to appeal to the different needs of the U.S. population. 

Meanwhile in Hiware Bazar, India, Kiran finds her fashionable pink smart glasses and checks her appearance in the dirty glass door before she bolts outside to explore her world-sized classroom.