Ethics of Mining the Mind

You won't find much about the internet and gadget addiction on the web for obvious reasons as techno giants, who get you hooked, control this space. As gadgets become more sophisticated and user friendly, they form a gateway to a virtual reality that lures us away from daily problems and challenges to the Matrix that mines our attention, emotions, forms cravings and breeds division. Lastly, there' s too much talk online about AI ethics while this problem right under our nose gets no attention, wait, it is the attention that could be monetized this huge unruly industry is after anyway.

Sceptics say that addictions are formed and sustained because they are perfect to keep someone's mind in check. "Addiction is NOT a lack of willpower or a moral failing. It’s compulsive, out of control feel-good-now-but-pay-for-it-later behavior that destroys lives, careers, and marriages. Its victims suffer greatly, leaving them feeling empty and alone." Techno giants have gracefully inserted themselves between failing human leaders and their populace by distracting and manipulating the physical reality while they can't blame it all on AI yet. "Technology addiction (also called process addiction or “nonsubstance-related addiction.”) is a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences, as deemed by the user himself/herself to his/her individual health, mental state, or social life."

Of course, talking of any real harm to people, especially kids, is sheer nonsense, media murmurs.?Researchers claim: "There is a change in social behavior due to gadget addiction. These behaviors include: hyper tantrums, unstable emotions, do not care about having social problems, such as being alone, do not want to socialize, and always focus on the gadget in his hand." So let's see what this addiction does to the brain then: "Addiction has a powerful influence on the brain, and it manifests in three ways: cravings, loss of control, and continuing involvement despite adverse consequences." Wait, give us some real substance here! "Recent researches on brain imaging shows that technology influences the brain’s frontal cortex (the part which controls executive functioning including impulse control) exactly the same way as that of cocaine. Technology is so hyper-exciting that it increases the dopamine levels (the feel-good neurotransmitter that plays a major role in addiction), making the child crave for more and more stimulation."

They say gadgetry and social media content pack a heavy punch: "In particular, we argue that addicting users to social media is impermissible because it unjustifiably harms users in a way that is both demeaning and objectionably exploitative. Importantly, the attention-economy business model of social media companies strongly incentivizes them to perpetrate this wrongdoing."

Brain is boring, what about mental health issues then? Some researchers and mental health practitioners see excessive Internet use as a symptom of another disorder such as anxiety or depression rather than a separate entity. Any recent scandals? Instagram makes teen girls feel worse about their bodies, and that they blame the platform for anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Finally, what about the ethical aspect of all of the above, i.e. moral disengagement?For example, a number of studies also conducted in the field of neuroscience have reported that the so-called moral or social emotions, e.g. admiration and compassion, involve a slower form of information processing due to a more demanding request for reflection and cognitive appraisal. Contrary to this need, digital communication is very rapid, and does not normally give the individual time to process information carefully. We all know it's about primitive manipulation and mind control, but what does it really do? By putting into play moral cognitive mechanisms of disengagement - going from moral justification to dehumanization of the victim, from attribution of blame to distortion of consequences - we manage to detach ourselves morally and to ensure that emotions such as guilt do notemerge, or are somewhat mitigated.?

All that reminds me of a great story from 1961 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. "Harrison Bergeron" that talks about 2081 when Constitution?dictates that all Americans are fully equal and not allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else: "And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains." Sounds familiar how smart people are silenced these days through such a transmitter called the Internet. We all are so close to this day thanks to our progressive friends who are supported by techno giants and mainstream media.

But back to gadgetry addiction. Another great story from 1953 called The Hypnoglyph by Anthony John about how on planet DK-8 locals used a gadget as a snare that caused immense tactile gratification: "That goes for the lower animals too. Their tropisms are fantastically dominant over their other responses. Once an animal starts stroking one of those gadgets as you're doing, it simply cannot stop." Lastly, it was used to capture humans, indeed, with far-reaching ramifications: "...nature still deals a tricky hand. Keep the species in abeyance long enough and it stops thrusting toward its own development." So someone this far back saw this danger coming.

Our project Teebei aims to do exactly the opposite - speed up neuroplasticity to rewire the brain and restore its original settings to empower individuals as the tech industry seeks to speed up dumbing down to usher in the New World Order stale narrative in the covid fog of war and the advent of AI.

(To be continued) #transformation #transformationcoach #businessethics #transformationalleadership #teebei #ethicalleadership #integritymatters #leadershipdevelopment