A report recently released by the Pew Research Center and Elon University’s Imaging the Internet Center, indicated that attempts to fully disconnect ourselves from technology will become increasingly futile over the next several years. With almost half the world’s population connected (in some way, shape, or form) to the Internet, the various electronics that surround us are having a growingly unprecedented influence over almost every aspect of our daily lives. Homes are monitored by surveillance cameras, smart thermostats maintain temperatures in accordance to people’s daily routines, smartphones continue to become smarter and resourceful—I can go on all day.
As the Internet of Things continues its projected growth through 2026, it’s slowly reaching a point where human and machine connectivity will become completely ubiquitous on an economic, cultural, and social level. According to the survey of 1200 participants, 85 percent said they’re willing to continue engaging with the Internet of Things when asked if the aspect of a cyberattack or incident of greater equivalence would deter them from further connecting with their technologies over the next decade.
The responses given by the participants begs the question as to why people feel this way about their current (and future) relationships with connected technology. The study reaffirmed how difficult it already is for people to disconnect from the technology that surrounds and influences our everyday lives. At the rate our technological innovations are growing however, having a complete disconnect from electronics might be impossible in the coming years.
“People’s businesses, homes, cars, and even their clothing will be monitoring their every move, and potentially even their thoughts,” says UK Berkeley Professor Marti Heart. “Connected cities will track where and when people walk, initially to light their way, but eventually to monitor what they do and say…Eventually, all fluids in and out of bodies will be monitored and recorded. Opting out will be out of the ordinary and hugely inconvenient, just as not carrying a mobile device and not using a fast pass on the highway are today.”
We’re more at risk of cyberattacks than many of us would like to believe. While most people are accustomed to risk, many have that “this will never happen to me” mentality.
“Unless we have a disaster that triggers a major shift in usage, the convenience and benefits of connectivity will continue to attract users. Evidence suggests that people value convenience today over possible future negative outcomes,” says MIT Senior Research Scientist David Clark.
While most of the participants acknowledged how unsafe the Internet of Things truly is, many believe security will improve as more awareness continues to be raised about the issues.
“Technology can be like junk food. We’ll consume it, even when we know it’s bad for us. There is no silver bullet,” says Future Today Institute CEO Amy Webb. “The only way to effectively prevent against malware and data breaches is to stay continually vigilant. Organizations must hire enough knowledgeable staff to monitor and adjust systems, and to empower them to keep pace with hackers. IT and security staff must be willing to educate themselves, to admit when they need help and to demand that executives make decisions proactively.”
For more in-depth quotes in response to the Pew Research Center study, you can click here to view the original article. You can also access the original report here for a direct thorough breakdown of the study that was conducted.
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)