TECHNOLOGY & BEYOND

Over a third of Canadians want to 'delete themselves' from the internet, survey says

Technology In Our Life Today And How It Has Changed

Over the years, technology has revolutionized our world and daily lives. Additionally, technology for seniors has created amazing tools and resources, putting useful information at our fingertips.

Modern technology has paved the way for multi-functional devices like the smartwatch and the smartphone. Computers are increasingly faster, more portable, and higher-powered than ever before. With all of these revolutions, technology has also made our lives easier, faster, better, and more fun.

In this article, we’ll cover how technology has enhanced the quality of life for seniors lives in and out of the home. Technology’s advancements have provided quicker ways to communicate through instant messaging apps and social media platforms. Seniors are able to keep in touch with loved ones, while caregivers have new avenues to check in on aging parents or patients.

Technology has also given us brand new devices in recent decades, like smartwatches, tablets, and voice assistant devices. With these devices, we can do things like transfer money instantly and make purchases for everything from clothes, food delivery, groceries, furniture, and more. Technology has
changed how we entertain ourselves, meet each other, and consume all types of media. It’s made fun advancements, but it’s also made important advancements in safety when it comes to home security and medical devices.

Those struggling with hearing loss can now benefit from hearing aids, or TV Listening Devices that allow them to comfortably listen to their favorite programs with ease.

Especially for seniors, these devices are providing the freedom to age in place, to live independently, and to continue moving through everyday life with peace of mind. It opens up new opportunities by helping with safety, mobility and connectivity. Medical advancements have made it so you can stay
proactive with conditions like diabetes and arthritis. With new medical alert devices, seniors can also get help at the push of a button and keep in touch with loved ones no matter where they are in the world.

Since there are so many new technologies to keep track of, it can seem overwhelming to adapt. However, all of these new technologies are designed to make your life easier. Even though it may not feel intuitive, learning how to use smart phones, smartwatches and voice assistants just takes a little bit
of instruction and practice.

When it comes to the way we communicate overall, modern technology has had a powerful influence.

Digital technology has changed what people term as “media.” The influence of new technology on media is apparent since a media company isn’t necessarily a news platform anymore. A media company is now any company that helps pass information across the globe, including social media platforms like
Facebook and Twitter.

The amount of active web users globally is now near 3.2 billion people. That is almost half of the world’s population. Every day, two million smartphones are sold around the world, and the amount of information we share shared on social media networks is phenomenal.

Social media isn’t the only big statement digital technology has made. Neither is social media the only way technology has had an impact in everyone’s life.

Before mobile technology, you had to search through a dictionary to understand the meaning of a word. Now you can look words up in a dictionary app or quickly search the Internet. Beyond words, you can search for practically anything on the Internet using search engines like Google and Bing.

There is no denying that the future of technology will continue to revolutionize our lives. In a few years, driverless cars may be the norm for everyone, and robots will be commonplace in factories. Future technology is sure to transform our lives in unbelievable ways, but here we highlight the many common ways technology is changing our lives today.

More than a third of Canadians say they would completely wipe out their presence on the internet if they could, according to a new survey.

Mitchell Consky
CTVNews.ca Writer

The survey, commissioned by cybersecurity and VPN provider NordVPN, involved 10,800 participants from 11 countries, including 1,000 Canadians. It found that 36 per cent of Canadians would "delete themselves" from the internet if they could.

Additionally, 48 per cent of Canadians felt used by companies collecting their data, while 47 per cent expressed worries that someone may eventually hack into their devices.

“While removing yourself from the internet sounds like a good idea for those concerned with having their personal information exposed to the wrong entities, you have to ask yourself if wiping the slate totally clean is even possible in our digital-dominant world,” said NordVPN digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson in a news release on Tuesday.

Canada was the country that had the largest percentage of respondents who wanted to see their financial information removed. Of the Canadian respondents, 60 per cent said they would most like to see their personal financial information wiped from the internet, compared to 56 per cent of Australians and 52 per cent of Brits.

Unflattering photos, embarrassing moments, old dating and social media profiles and previous employment history were other examples of information that Canadians said they wished to delete.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that Google search results fall under Canada's privacy laws, a victory for digital privacy activists calling on Canada to affirm the "right to be forgotten." This case involved a man who asked Google to de-index articles that showed up in searches of his name.

NordVPN recommends deleting old social media profiles that you don’t use, or setting them as private. The company also encourages sending deletion request to the web giants, asking them to remove any information they have about you.

"While that’s no guarantee that they’ll comply, many will, and it’s a good way to get companies like Facebook to remove the data they still hold on you after you’ve deleted your account," NordVPN says.

Meta quieter on U.S. election misinformation as midterms loom

WASHINGTON - Facebook owner Meta is quietly curtailing some of the safeguards designed to thwart voting misinformation or foreign interference in U.S. elections as the November midterm vote approaches.

It's a sharp departure from the social media giant's multibillion-dollar efforts to enhance the accuracy of posts about U.S. elections and regain trust from lawmakers and the public after their outrage over learning the company had exploited people's data and allowed falsehoods to overrun its site during the 2016 campaign.

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