Digital life and culture

Humanity is living in an unprecedented period of transformation – the digital age. While the previous industrial revolution changed methods of production, the digital age has a profound impact on every aspect of life. From how people communicate, learn, work, and entertain themselves, to their thinking, values, and cultural identity.

The music video "Surrender" by young singer Thoại Nghi was created using AI technology.

First and foremost, the digital age has fundamentally changed how people connect and communicate. With just a smartphone or computer connected to the internet, people can chat and exchange information with each other from anywhere in the world . Social media platforms, email, and video calling applications have erased geographical distances, making it easy for people to share emotions, knowledge, and life experiences. As a result, life has become faster and more efficient; social relationships have expanded, no longer confined to villages or national boundaries.

However, alongside its positive aspects, digital communication also puts people at risk of becoming "more distant from each other in real life," as many become engrossed in the virtual world and lack the direct attention and listening to those around them.

In the field of learning and education , the digital age has opened up an unprecedentedly vast space of knowledge. Today's students not only learn through traditional textbooks but also access a huge amount of resources from the internet: online lectures, digital libraries, virtual classrooms, and artificial intelligence-assisted learning. Learning is no longer confined within the four walls of a classroom but can take place anytime, anywhere. This is particularly significant in promoting self-learning and lifelong learning.

However, without information filtering skills, learners can easily fall into a state of "knowledge overload," receiving inaccurate or unverified information, leading to superficial learning, skewed learning, or excessive dependence on technology.

The digital age has also had a profound impact on labor and employment. Digital technology , automation, and artificial intelligence are gradually replacing many repetitive, manual jobs, while simultaneously creating new professions such as data analysis, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and digital content creation. Thanks to technology, people can work remotely, work flexibly, and improve labor productivity.

However, this shift also poses a major challenge: those who fail to adapt and update their digital skills risk falling behind, or even losing their jobs. Therefore, the digital age demands that everyone constantly learn, innovate their thinking, and be ready to adapt.

In daily life, digital technology brings significant convenience and optimization. From online shopping and cashless payments to ride-hailing and remote healthcare, every need can be met quickly with just a few taps. Life becomes more convenient, saving time and effort. However, this convenience also leads to a sedentary lifestyle and dependence on smart devices, increasing physical and mental health problems such as nearsightedness, obesity, stress, and internet addiction.

The song "Say Mot Doi Vi Em" (I'll Live My Life For You) performed by an AI artist.

The impact of the digital age on culture and values ​​cannot be ignored. The digital environment facilitates the widespread dissemination of cultural values, enabling people to access the best of global culture. However, this rapid influx can also dilute traditional identity if there is a lack of awareness in preserving it. Furthermore, negative phenomena such as cyberbullying, fake news, deviant language, a pragmatic lifestyle, and the pursuit of "likes" are significantly impacting awareness and character, especially among young people. This requires each individual to possess strong character, digital ethics, and responsibility when participating in cyberspace.

Faced with these opportunities and challenges, people in the digital age need to live proactively and selectively. Technology should be seen as a tool to serve humanity, not as a factor that completely dominates life. Each person needs to cultivate digital skills, critical thinking skills, time management abilities, and a balance between the real and virtual worlds. At the same time, families, schools, and society need to work together to guide and educate people towards a healthy and humane lifestyle in the digital environment, helping them develop comprehensively in both intellect and character.

In short, life in the digital age is a multifaceted tapestry with a mix of bright and dark colors. Digital technology brings about remarkable advancements, improving the quality of life and opening up a promising future. However, to avoid being swept away by the technological current, people need to uphold core values, master knowledge, and use technology intelligently and humanely. Only then will the digital age truly become a driving force for the sustainable development of individuals and society.

If writing, printing, photography, and film once ushered in new eras of creativity, today's digital age, with its internet, artificial intelligence, social media, and multimedia technology, is fundamentally changing how people create, receive, and disseminate cultural and artistic values. Culture and art are no longer confined to physical spaces or traditional frameworks, but are dynamically evolving within a vast, multidimensional, and challenging digital space.

With the support of digital technology, artists are no longer dependent on pen, paper, canvas, or traditional stage. With just a computer or smartphone, creators can paint, compose music, make films, design fashion, or create complex multimedia artworks. Artificial intelligence technology also directly participates in the creative process, suggesting melodies, color schemes, and compositions, thereby changing traditional perceptions of the creative subject in art.

Beyond changing the way art is created, the digital age has revolutionized the way art and culture are preserved and disseminated. The internet and digital platforms have broken down spatial barriers, bringing works of art to a global audience in an instant. A folk song, a traditional painting, an ancient dance, or a local cultural festival can be digitized, stored, and widely promoted on online platforms.

As a result, cultural values ​​that were once at risk of disappearing are now "revived" in contemporary life, reaching the younger generation and the international community. Culture and art are therefore no longer the "property" of a single community or nation, but become a continuous flow of exchange and dialogue between cultures.

HOANG HA THE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cuoc-life-and-digital-culture-post837428.html