As technology advances by the minute, it has become increasingly vital to facilitate awareness on social media of what is being integrated into cultures worldwide.
Doctor Walter Scheirer, co-author of the book “Where is the Human in AI?” led a deep dive conversation into whether or not technology could ever truly be good. He explored the concept of creating a morally virtuous internet for the betterment of communities and families around the world during his presentation, “Virtue in Virtual Spaces” on Oct. 2.
Beginning with Ephesians 2:10, Dr. Scheirer stated, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us.” He explained that this means humanity has been called by God to co-creation. This call stems from the fact that humanity was created in God’s image and likeness. As God is the ultimate creator of all things, it would make sense for every person to have a calling to create as well. This does not mean simply creating anything, but creating good things as God did in the book of Genesis.
This set the stage for the next question: If technology was created by people who meant well, “why do our most popular technologies cause alienation?”
The internet was not created with anything particularly negative in mind, Scheirer clarified. Regardless, he maintained that whatever the original intention, most forms of social media lead to performative behaviors, promote rampant consumerism and glorify violence.
In this way, it is the users that make the internet into the negative social space that it is today, even if the people promoting unhealthy behaviors are unaware of what they are doing.
In response he posed a solution, deeming it “an oasis in a sea of terrible things.” His solution is a community living separated from the rest of the world, or a “Benedict Option for the Internet.”
Scheirer’s proposed community will strikingly contrast with the rest of society that does not live by Christian core values, and is not willing to accept differences in options.
However, society would not need to remove all forms of technology in order to achieve this “oasis.” Dr. Scheirer explained that there would be “a creation of an internet within the internet.” Simply, he proposed new and less toxic apps and communal spaces online where people can form healthy communities and expand their interests.
He stated that, when attempting to create such an internet, core values of a supportive community and the importance of the family must be maintained in order to continue making healthy connections. If these values are weighed into the programming process, it will lead to an overall better experience for the app’s future users.
Dr. Scheirer suggested two apps which have healthy core values aligning with his idea of “the Oasis,” or the ideal internet. These apps are BuyNothing and BeReal, which both promote healthy lifestyles. They support those in need and provide an environment for sharing your life with friends, instead of simply seeking to gain followers.
Dr. Scheirer concluded his presentation by telling everyone, “You can do better than passively consuming.”