Point Of Words
Point Of Words is an ongoing discovery and reflection of the influential nature of words.
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We take words for granted till it is directed at us in a way that provokes us to think or act. Experiences, Opinions and Religious dogma shaped our early years. Some of it, we realised is true. The rest requires wisdom beyond our years.
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The media we interact with has a deep impact on our thinking and feelings.
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As a Communication practitioner, I am aware of organisations using media to communicate. Internally to inspire employees, and externally to build loyal customers. Every word is pre-meditated to attract attention or influence.
Social Media Technology is now connecting all kinds of brands and people globally. Free access to media has caused an information explosion beyond our control.
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The result?
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Humanity is breaking down. Human vulnerabilities are being exploited. Social Media Technology and the Workplace have become critical mediums of negative influence. Our minds and hearts have been targeted more than ever in the last two decades.
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Social Media use is hurting mental health across ages. The digital world gives us the illusion of connectedness, leaving humans lonelier than ever.
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Global data on the mental health concerns in the working population;
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One billion people living with a mental disorder in 2019
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15 percent of working-age adults experienced a mental disorder.
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Work amplifies wider societal issues that negatively affect mental health.
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An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ one trillion​
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In short, the blog reflects on how the words we encounter - especially through the workplace and social media - have a profound impact on our mental well-being, often contributing to humanity’s struggles in an increasingly connected yet isolated world.
What are experts saying about the digital world we are living in today?
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"We're too busy communicating to think, too busy communicating to connect, and sometimes we're too busy communicating to create. This is true for individuals and also true for organizations." - Sherry Turkle, MIT professor
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"In the social media industry, the business model relies on sucking our attention spans until there’s nothing left. It’s also designed to allow for “unchecked virality,” meaning companies profit off the rampant spread of powerful misinformation." - Tristan Harris, founder, Center for Humane Technology
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"We have given up our connection to context. Social media mashes up meaning ... To free yourself, to be more authentic, to be less addicted, to be less manipulated, to be less paranoid … for all these marvelous reasons, delete your accounts." - Jaron Lanier, godfather of Virtual Technology
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"Right now there are 99 very smart people trying to make AI better and one very smart person trying to figure out how to stop it taking over, and maybe you want to be more balanced," - Geoffrey Hinton, godfather of Artificial Intelligence