The internet has connected the world like nothing before it. Many thought the world had become connected when the steam engine allowed us to build trains and railways, but it cannot compare to how connected we are in this day and age. In a matter of seconds, we can reach someone from the other side of the world, video call with friends and family at all times of the day, and meet people from all over the world. Connectivity has become a fact of life.
Connectivity is more than our communication via the internet, though; openness, social equity, and transparency are also part of this megatrend as are globalization, responsibility, and digitalization.
Opportunities of Connectivity
Most of us enjoy the fruits of connectivity on a daily basis. That you are able to read this article is one example of how connectivity influences our lives. People from across the world can connect, share their thoughts, and collaborate with each other.
- The Rising Billion: Connectivity is giving the third-world access to opportunities they have never had before. They can make money, get access to goods and services, and raise their voice online. Their autonomy, power, and chances have grown a lot as a result of connectivity. This trend hasn’t yet established full equity, but the world is moving in the right direction.
- On-Demand Learning: In previous times, people would have to travel to certain cities to learn from certain people and visit certain schools. Connectivity allows people to connect with each other no matter where they are and thus learn from top experts no matter where they live. Educational videos are very popular on YouTube, and online communities designed for enabling growth, such as Moonshot Pirates, are also gaining traction. That is a direct result of connectivity.
- Transparency: As people and companies connect online, a call for transparency and openness is being heard from consumers. With users having the chance to buy from any company in the world, values, behaviors, and trustworthiness play a bigger role than ever before.
Challenges of Connectivity
As amazing as those benefits sound, there are also a few challenges we need to be aware of:
- Cybersecurity: Connectivity is made possible by the internet, but the internet isn’t an entirely safe space. Cyber attacks happen on a daily basis everywhere, and you need to be careful when you’re surfing the web. Blockchain technology has the potential to improve our cybersecurity, but we’re not there yet.
- Power Consumption: Accessing the internet requires power, and with more people spending more time online our power consumption is going to increase. If we continue to use energy sources such as oil and gas, we are going to run out soon (and negatively impact the environment, too). Sustainable energies are available and improving continuously, so solutions are close at hand.
We are well on our way to solve these challenges, but we haven’t reached the end goal yet, and there is still work to do.
What You Can Do
Connectivity is in the DNA of the future. So to get future-ready, get yourself familiar with connectivity and its benefits.
- Engage in networking: You can literally connect with people from all over the world, so why not start engaging? You never know when a contact might become useful.
- Create a strong online profile: A cool LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter profile will help people find and connect with you.
- Be aware of what you share: Transparency becomes increasingly widespread and normal. What we do online will become part of our online presence, readily accessible to anyone. So be mindful of what you do.
Connectivity offers us one of the greatest opportunities of the 21. century. It is sure to spur innovation and creativity when more brains get to cross-pollenate. Connectivity allows us to create one big virtual community. Greater understanding, greater ideas, and greater global responsibility are sure to be the result of that. Global times are ahead!
