TOBY SHAPSHAK: The ugliness of the world wide web
Troll target Hillary Clinton and her husband, Bill, were well qualified to warn us about the downside of the internet
Though the internet has enabled an "amazing advance" for humanity, social networks, the addictive nature of smart devices and the loss of personal privacy are real problems, say Bill and Hillary Clinton. It was an unusual scene: a former US president and former first lady and secretary of state on a stage in Joburg discussing the state of the world and the effects of technology on democracy and our mental health. Their interviewer was Adrian Gore, CEO of Discovery Health, whose leadership summit this year included President Cyril Ramaphosa, innovation author Clayton Christensen and SA’s most prolific medal-winning athlete, Caster Semenya. Hillary Clinton was narrowly defeated by Donald Trump two years ago in a bitterly contested election that spawned a new phrase — "fake news" — and a new understanding of a "post-truth" world. Praising the way just about any information can be accessed, she said the internet had enabled all kinds of businesses and communication across the globe, "bu...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.