RIYADH, 21 April 2004 — Rapid advances in technology can have innumerable benefits. But technology-based globalization also has its drawbacks: A gradual erosion of culture and family values, rising poverty and unemployment and an ever-widening gap between rich and poor are some of the issues plaguing developed countries today.
Saudi Arabia, one of the 20 largest economies in the world and the largest IT market in the Middle East, may be facing a similar fate.
“Access to satellite television and the Internet has given Saudis the freedom to share information from the outside world, and this in turn has brought about many changes in culture, especially among the youth,” said Dr. Saud Al-Dohayan, a professor in social work at King Saud University. “The way they dress, talk and almost every aspect of their behavior is influenced by what they view in the media.”
According to Al-Dohayan, not all technology is used to benefit society and may in fact be misused. The Internet, for instance, is a powerful tool that is easily available to most members of society; whether or not it serves to educate and inform depends on the user.
Saudi Arabia has a PC penetration per household of over 25 percent — the highest in the Gulf. There are 22 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and 1.45 million Internet users in the Kingdom. All Internet content is filtered through the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Riyadh, which heavily censors it and blocks a massive number of sites. However, the blocks can be overcome.
Dr. Al-Dohayan argues that the censorship is necessary as some content online can be damaging to society.
The availability of violent and sexual content “has led to a prevalence of sexual thought and behavior and a rise in sexual abuse,” he said. “Crime is on the rise, as young people try to imitate the violence they see on television.”
But content is not his only concern.
Psychologists believe that technology workers who have little person-to-person contact may be at greater risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders.
A recent report by an International Labor Organization also found increased rates of mental disorder in some countries that were more technologically driven than others.
“We haven’t reached that point yet,” Al-Dohayan said. “But we are moving in the same direction.”
The smothering effect of a technology-saturated world is further exacerbated by “unnecessary technology,” which not only creates an eyesore but is also a waste.
In a well-known supermarket chain in Riyadh, a multitude of Flat Panel displays hang suspended wherever possible to create the effect of a “techno-nightmare” for shoppers. The produce section alone has six or more displays. There is one above each counter and one in almost every corner of the market. They all display a monotonous series of still images that serve no purpose but to show customers — who are usually looking the other way — the special discount prices of certain items — items that have already been listed in a separate handout sheet that shoppers pick up when they enter the market.
Similarly, as technology becomes more affordable, many homeowners now choose to furnish every room in the house with technology like satellite television, video and DVD players and other technical paraphernalia. Such a setting further divides the home into small autonomous units and leaves little opportunity for family members to come together and interact. It also gives children opportunities to view whatever they please in the privacy of their own room without parental control.
Human interaction is sacrificed and relationships are affected, Al-Dohayan believes. Technology alone is not enough to empower a nation. What is needed is education about efficient use and application of that technology, he said.
“We can never be 100 percent efficient, but we can at least try to minimize the negative effects of modernization,” he said.
He added the Ministries of Education and Social Affairs need to play a greater role by educating parents, teachers and others about the proper use of new technology. “We import technology but not the ethics of using it,” he said. “We have imported big cars, for instance, but we don’t know how to drive them.”
Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of motor vehicles in the Middle East and also has one of the highest accident rates. Half a million people are killed or injured on the Kingdom’s roads each year.
