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web3

Taking Back Control: Why Web3 Matters for Our Mental Health


Taking Back Control: Why Web3 Matters for Our Mental Health

Feeling powerless online isn’t just annoying — it quietly wears us down. I often wonder, how much control do we really have over our digital lives? About 70% of Americans say they don’t feel in control of their online data, and more than half worry regularly about their privacy. That sense of helplessness can stir up stress, anxiety, even depression. It’s hard to feel okay when you’re constantly worried about being watched or taken advantage of online.

That’s why I believe Web3 offers something meaningful — not just in a technical sense, but as a mental health lifeline. It gives us back ownership over our digital identities. See me pointing towards the future, where we, as individuals, take back the reins from the tech giants and decide for ourselves what we share, who we share it with, and under what conditions.

I like when I feel at ease online and in charge. For example, when I’m setting up my own website — deciding what to post, how to present myself, and knowing I can remove whatever I want, whenever I want. It’s freeing — a space that feels truly mine, without some algorithm choosing what matters. It’s a reminder that, just like offline, our mental well-being online thrives when we have a sense of agency.

Of course, none of this will happen automatically. We need to build these systems with ethics at the core. We have to stay ahead of the next wave of surveillance. I hear, tools like Zero-Knowledge proofs offer some exciting possibilities for protecting personal and health data — but I guess they’re not magic. If any of you have played around with them or seen their limits in action, I’d love to hear from you. Because really, we need to keep asking: are we building a web that respects our humanity, or one that just finds new ways to exploit it?

Caring about soft values in tech isn’t nerdy — it’s just common sense. The web should reflect our values and dreams; we spend so much of our lives there.

And yet, I can’t help but smile at the irony of it all. We’re turning to the very technology that fed our sense of powerlessness to help us reclaim autonomy. It’s like using a hammer to fix another hammer — sometimes, the fix comes from the same place as the problem.

What parts of your digital life make you feel most in control today?

Categories
Business & Society

Ensuring Elderly Inclusion in the Youthful Web3 Revolution

Rarely do I encounter a substantial discussion about the needs of the elderly within the web3 community, even though the number of people aged 65 and older is growing faster than any other age group. Even if grandma isn't using crypto today, the developments in the web3 tech world need to consider all age-groups to create a fair and just digital development in society. Here’s why.

Firstly, web3 is far more than cryptocurrency. Web3 extends beyond cryptocurrency, embracing distributed applications and protocols that offer potential for transforming healthcare, notably enhancing data management, accessibility to medical services, and personalized healthcare experiences for the elderly.

Secondly, recent data sheds light on the demographic skew in cryptocurrency adoption: 94% of cryptocurrency buyers are from the younger age groups, predominantly Gen Z (18-24) and Millennials (25-40). Additionally, in terms of cryptocurrency awareness and understanding, men aged 25-34 tend to have a better grasp of the concepts compared to women and older respondents. The number of people aged 65 and older is growing faster than any other age group. Meanwhile globally, the number of people aged 80 and older is projected to almost triple between 2000 and 2050. Triple.

The crypto industry overwhelmingly favors younger age groups as they are more tech-savvy and comfortable with new financial technologies. They have grown up in the digital age and are more likely to embrace the jargon and the essence of non-traditional finance. Whereas seniors may feel intimidated by the fast-paced changes in technology. Many are unfamiliar with concepts like blockchain and decentralized finance. This lack of understanding can lead to feelings of exclusion and frustration.

The underlying premise is that the elderly prefer traditional investments like stocks and real estate. But development in the web3 space is far broader than investing, and the digital literacy of society will ultimately determine how successful the digital adoption will be. Elderly already face barriers to entry due to their age and digital literacy levels.

The other day, three elderly parked their car beside mine and asked me how they should pay for parking using their phone. “Forget about it… enjoy the spring sun instead,” I said, thinking that the knowledge gap seemed too wide. They laughed and smiled and went on with their day as it was free parking that day anyway.

By prioritizing the needs of seniors, we can pave the way for a more equitable and accessible digital landscape. Again, remember that web3 is more than cryptocurrency. For example, blockchain technology is quietly changing how we deliver medical care, a transformation from which all age groups stand to benefit.

So, what needs to be done?

We need to take proactive steps such as designing interfaces that are intuitive and easy to navigate for seniors, developing educational resources tailored to their needs, and establishing support networks to assist them in navigating the complexities of Web3 technologies.

 Technology is for people, not for technology itself.

It's essential to recognize the valuable contributions that seniors can bring to the Web3 ecosystem. Joda is old and wise. Their life experiences, wisdom, and unique perspectives can enrich our collective understanding and drive innovation forward. By empowering them to participate fully in the Web3 revolution, we unlock the full potential of digital technologies to create a brighter future for everyone.

Categories
Business & Society

From Shells to Bitcoin: Navigating Privacy in Money’s Evolution

Back then, we needed to hide our precious shells in the shed. Thieves swiped our metal coins and nowadays we hide our Bitcoin off-line. History serves as a stark reminder of our enduring concerns: from ancient times to the present day, privacy in finance has always been a political issue. Here’s a fresh historical perspective on our fear of government controlled digital money.

In the early days of human civilization, people relied on bartering to trade goods and services directly. However, as societies progressed and became more complex, the need for a standardized form of currency became apparent. Even in these early times, individuals were wary of privacy issues, aiming to protect the value of their traded items from unwanted attention.

The introduction of metal coinage around 600 BCE marked a significant advancement in monetary history, providing a standardized currency for trade. While metal coins offered greater convenience, they also presented new privacy challenges. Wealth stored in physical form became vulnerable to theft and manipulation. More secure monetary systems were needed. Then what happened?

The transition to paper money during the Middle Ages further complicated privacy issues. Governments and merchants began issuing paper currency backed by precious metals. Now concerns about counterfeiting and financial surveillance grew. The establishment of central banks in the 17th and 18th centuries aimed to address these challenges but raised new questions about privacy and economic autonomy. Remember there was still no internet…

I know they are far from perfect… but I would also say that the single most important win with central banking was the ability to effectively manage and stabilize the economy through monetary policy. Central banks have the power to adjust interest rates, regulate the money supply, and influence economic activity to promote growth while mitigating inflation or deflationary pressures. This control over monetary policy allows central banks to respond to various economic challenges, such as recessions or financial crises, thereby maintaining stability and nurturing  long-term prosperity.

However, central banking also raised concerns about privacy infringement and government surveillance. Individuals feared that centralized authorities could monitor their financial transactions, compromising their privacy rights. At this time, internet connectivity remained limited.

It’s starting! The digital revolution of the late 20th century transformed the way we conduct financial transactions, introducing electronic payments, credit cards, and online banking. While these innovations offered unprecedented convenience, they also increased concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity. Individuals became increasingly wary of sharing sensitive financial information online, fearing identity theft and surveillance. By the early 21st century, approximately 5-10% of the global population had access to the internet, and digital financial services started appearing.

You guessed it. Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 and promised a decentralized alternative to traditional fiat currencies. Yes, it also offered enhanced privacy and security through blockchain technology. However, while cryptocurrencies initially appealed to privacy-conscious individuals, they also raised regulatory concerns about illicit activities and money laundering. As internet access expanded, reaching around 40-50% of the global population by the present day, digital transactions obviously went through the roof.

Naturally, in response to the digitalization in society and the rise of cryptocurrencies, central banks began exploring the concept of CBDCs. But centralized issuance and oversight could enable governments to monitor and track individuals' financial transactions. This is good and bad depending on the individual.

With internet connectivity nearing universal levels, with over 90% of the global population online, what's a government to do? We go fully digital.

History serves as a stark reminder of our enduring concerns: from ancient times to the present day, privacy in finance has always been a political issue. Even in nations like Sweden where trust in institutions runs high, staying vigilant is essential. I would say that CBDCs offer a everyone a fair shot at participating in the digital economy. It's not just about putting blind trust in governments—it's about raising our voices for transparency and fairness. In our knowledge-based democracies, we have the power to shape the digital landscape, preserving our autonomy and security by voicing our opinion and using our vote.