By Agar Mayor Gai-Makoon
What is unique about our age is that so much transformation has happened in the ways we communicate and work.
It is possible today to pass your information to thousands of people in various places in just minutes through social media. YouTube and Spotify have provided jobs to young content creators. And for learning and acquiring useful knowledge, digital platforms are very helpful to this generation.
Digital technology and tools have made communication and money-making so easy and fast. Businesses are advertised and run online. Governments are also making use of digital platforms in data collection and analysis that help in policy making. Digitalism has become the new norm in every sphere of life. It has controlled everything and everyone in one way or another. But what if I tell you that digitalism is in the wrong hands? The fact that digital technology is important is not the whole thing about it. There is that bad side that we should consider too especially, in this country, South Sudan. And let me assert that digitalism if not tamed well is potentially the greatest threat to our values and livelihood. It would not have any advantage over poverty and other problems that we have now. Because the promotion of tribalism, encouraging idleness and worse of all, induction of moral decay as new roles of social media in South Sudan are very deadly.
According to Global Digital Insights, 6.6 per cent of our total population are already using social media. Next year, it will be higher. The fear is that if this percentage has already diverted the good use of social media, the coming ones could follow. And the outcome would be a failed society with moral decay and ungodliness cemented by social media. I feel so bad when someone makes a four-hour live show on social media to abuse, and pass untrue and unhealthy information about a community or clan or tribe. This shows the extent to which the misuse of digital technology has reached. Instead of creating educative content on YouTube for money, or using social media to teach people about certain things that culture holds in high regard but at the brink of vanishing, people find happiness in creating problems. This is a very unfortunate situation—being unready for the benefits of digitalism. And to make sure that the benefits of digitalism are realized in South Sudan, the following should be done.
First, make and implement strong digital laws. The legislative assembly should discuss and adopt very strict laws that both teach and punish those who go against the good purpose of digital technology.
In Part II—Bill of Rights, of the transitional constitution of South Sudan, articles 22, 24(1-3), and 33 give every South Sudanese right to privacy, freedom of expression and media and the right of communities to protect and practice their norms respectively. Most of us tend to go wrong in the interpretation of these laws. For instance, the right to privacy does not necessarily give someone the right to do something wrong and then, keep it secret. But it rather protects those who may not be comfortable with making their life public. Also, the freedom of expression and media does not guarantee misuse or abuse of the media rules.
We must always express the expressible, and making sure this right is not breached by anyone both the citizens and the government. The right of communities to protect and practice their culture is very good. In fact, it is the reason for this article because misuse of digital technology is a grave threat to South Sudanese cultural and moral standing.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the legislature in collaboration with the youth and community leaderships should evaluate, adopt and implement strong digital law that seeks to protect our moral values—the tariffs on the internet must be raised, and the government should institute a controlled digital system where it monitors everything. These will be subject to amendments in future when the digital order is restored.
Secondly, never give cell phones to those on primary and secondary levels. South Sudan’s social media space is very unhealthy for young brains. And perhaps, it is not reasonable to have young people exposed at ages that can easily be spoiled. There are many digital apps that can help in learning and this is the reason some parents allow their children have smartphones. But this has been proven wrong—the young ones are not using that opportunity for the better. So, it is good for parents to develop strategies that can help their children grow and be responsible citizens. Vigilance and swift action against moral decay aided by social media must be firmly upheld because digitalism is in the wrong hands.
Thirdly, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction should have digital studies included in the secondary school curriculum. Digital knowledge is very critical and useful for nation’s growth. And teaching young ones this good part at secondary level is the first bullet in eradicating misuse and abuse of digital technology.
It is almost impossible to mislead those who know, but in an empty brain thrives immorality, ignorance, wickedness and corruption of values. The path to growth and prosperity is rough but when the nation is determined to know every contributing aspect, it is easier to deal with problems. South Sudan must revise and evaluate the failures and successes of digitalism since independence.
The writer has a background in Socio-Political philosophy. He studies Medicine in Egypt