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“Existence precedes essence.”
Jean-Paul Sartre
We couldn’t have started in a better way than by saying this. Make no mistake: the digital world is not exclusionary.
The cyber environment has all the characteristics of a highly complex space: it is abstract, even though it has physical elements; it is filled with technical terms and jargon; and for non-English speakers, accessing documentation and using applications can be difficult due to the lack of translation. There are many other barriers that can make it harder — or even prevent — users from feeling comfortable in this “challenging” environment, if we can call it that.
As Sartre said, what we do precedes who we are. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably already read the “About” page. If not, I recommend that you do — it will be valuable and help guide your journey here on the blog. There, I draw a parallel between the evolution of humanity (and to be clear, this is not about Darwin’s Theory of Evolution) and survival in the Digital Age. Humanity has gone through — and continues to go through, even today — a constant learning process. This learning spans every area of life, and the digital world is no exception. However, our experience in this field is still very limited compared to the empirical knowledge we’ve developed over thousands of years about hunting, feeding ourselves, protecting ourselves, and more. Even if we consider the invention of the calculator by Blaise Pascal in 1642, we are talking about only 384 years. And if we look at modern computing as we know it, we are really talking about developments from the 1930s or 1970s onward. In other words, everything is still very recent.
But none of that is an excuse. It’s a matter of interest — and that’s where the key lies. Building mental barriers is easier than facing the unknown. Even without fully understanding what drives technology, we use it constantly. Technology today is widely accessible — unlike something like building a house, where understanding each stage of the process can significantly reduce costs. In construction, you want to ensure the structure will support future plans, that the electrical system can handle new devices, and that the plumbing can meet demand. With technology, none of that is required. You simply go to a store, acquire a device, and start using it. The results are immediate: access to banking apps, email accounts, and the exposure — and often the sharing — of personal life through social media. Everything is right there, in the palm of your hand, often used without much thought.
Now, let me ask you: do you invite just anyone into your home? Do you use the same key for every lock? Do you leave your doors and windows wide open for anyone to enter? Or leave your car accessible for anyone to use? Of course not. Yet this is exactly what happens in the digital world when it is used without awareness.
After reading this, I invite you to reflect: what does your digital life look like? How strong are your passwords? How are you handling your personal data? Is it protected? And what about your internet connection — who has access to it? Ask yourself these questions, and over time, new ones will arise. Understand this: it is not the answers that move the world, but the questions — as Albert Einstein once said. Step by step, we will learn together, correcting what needs to be corrected and strengthening what needs to be strengthened.