20 years later, reflecting on how 9/11 changed the way the world works

The Twin Towers, commanding their presence on the Manhattan skyline, were completed in 1973 and were the tallest skyscrapers in the world when they opened. On Tuesday - September 11, 2001 - the 110 storey Twin Towers were crashed into by two planes (American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175) that were hijacked by terrorists. In less than 90 minutes the world witnessed one of the deadliest terrorist attacks which led to the loss of over 3000 lives.

The horrendous attacks executed by 19 terrorists on September 11th, 2001 will be etched in the history of mankind as it redefined the way the world responded to terrorism. Today, exactly 20 years after the collapse of the Twin Towers, we take a closer look at what the lasting effects of the 9/11 attacks were and how it changed the way the world works.

?Emergence of a new perspective on safety & security

The “Twin Tower” attacks stripped America and the rest of the world of a sense of safety, and the immediate effect of this was strict screening processes coming into play in airports, government buildings, tourist attractions and public spaces. It was only after 9/11 that Transportation Security Administration came into force and airports leveraged advanced technology to implement stringent screening methods that facilitate safe domestic and international travels. The US fortified its security measures by creating the Department of Homeland Security 11 days after the attack in a bid to strengthen national security and, also passed the US Patriot Act in October 2001 to surveil potential threats.

?Evolution in news transmission?

When the attack on the “Twin Towers” took place the pace at which news travelled was largely through two mediums - broadcast television and newspapers. With media consumption being closely monitored the visuals shared by news channels were in the best interest of public viewing. Over the last 20 years rapidity of news transmission has scaled new levels and communication has undergone a paradigm shift powered by digitalization. Today it is hard to even imagine the world as it was in 2001 and if the attack had happened today, it could be likely that increased smartphone penetration and the far- reaching impact of social media may mitigate the impact in some way or the other.??

Enhanced levels of disaster preparedness

The Twin Tower attack was an eye opener in many ways for government organizations, corporates, and business houses to enhance their levels of disaster preparedness.?Today, digital infrastructure is strengthened with wired and wireless networks which can tackle possible interruptions caused by unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, in the last 20 years the world’s understanding of risks has shifted from planes crashing into towers to also include cybersecurity threats, ransomware, and pandemics which have compelled stakeholders to accelerate their levels of disaster preparedness. Terms like “Business Continuity Planning” started gaining mileage as corporates recognized the colossal financial damage that could be caused due to lack of preparedness in unforeseen circumstances.?

Hope and persistence prevailed

The 9/11 attacks were inhumane and traumatic however there is no denying the fact that it had a catalytic effect in transforming the worldview. Technological innovation and powerful digital applications would not have found their way into our everyday lives so easily (airports, hotels, malls etc.) if the attacks had not threatened the safety of human existence. Businesses would not have embraced and adopted digital advent with as much gusto since they would continue to be unaware about potential unforeseen risks. 20 years after the collapse of the Twin Towers the world has moved on in myriad ways, only because, hope and persistence prevailed through the trying times. Disasters always come unannounced however in its trail it often teaches us key lessons that help us transcend to do better, be better and live better.??