Digital Innovation and Its Implications for the Human Condition

Author:

Luca Volpe - Lawyer & Author of ONLINE! Guida ai rischi del web

Introduction

"AI-driven systems present a plethora of opportunities for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet they also introduce new ethical dilemmas that demand a careful attention: as AI becomes increasingly woven into the fabric of our daily lives, its potential to infringe upon Human Rights becomes more pronounced, and its propensity to interfere with those rights grows more severe." This is what we read about iGlobal.Lawyer's vision.

Again, "We believe that traditional methods of addressing social, economic, and environmental issues could be effectively enhanced by the revolutionary paradigm shift provided by innovation, facilitating a deeper understanding of the root causes of inequality and injustice. At iGlobal.Lawyer, we operate at the forefront of innovation, leveraging cutting-edge advancements to tackle the multifaceted challenges that humanity is facing nowadays, framing them from a clear legal perspective, made understandable to all, in order to create an inclusive dialogue on the global stage: achieving the ethical innovation we all aspire to requires a collective commitment to harness its immense potential--potential that is matched by the scale of the possible negative consequences it may entail."

We spend over 12 trillion hours per year on social media

I have written a book that embraces this approach to innovation, ethics, and law, examining how digital technologies--from the internet to social media, from email to AI--have upended and reshaped our lives. Today, we all hold multiple devices in our hands: from the first mobile phones to the latest smartphones, from tablets to desktop and laptop computers, to smartwatches, smart glasses, and even headsets that allow us to connect with anyone, anywhere, in increasingly immersive ways. It feels as though we are witnessing a profound anthropological era. If I may borrow a phrase from my school days wrestling with Latin, I would describe today’s human as homo telematicus.

But that’s not all, the pace of change brought by this latest wave of innovation is unprecedented in human history. Consider the societal impact of radio and television: radio was invented between the mid- and late nineteenth century, with a community of amateur radio enthusiasts emerging in the United States around 1917; the first radio station in history was established in Detroit in 1920, and soon after, radio arrived in Europe. Initially, radio operated under monopoly regimes. Only after World War II did radio truly take off, experiencing a boom that withstood competition from both television and, later, the internet.

The impact of radio on society lasted well over a century. The advent of television was similarly transformative. Emerging in the 1920s and 1930s, television quickly spread worldwide. In Italy, the first broadcast was in 1954, followed by a boom that changed the lives of Italians forever. Television has been the subject of deep sociological, political, and philosophical reflection.

In Italy, thinkers like Umberto Eco, Sergio Zavoli, Pierpaolo Pasolini, and Enzo Biagi explored its significance. These reflections led to the idea of using television as a tool for information, education, and combating illiteracy. This gave birth to programs such as “Non è mai troppo tardi"--a popular education course for adult literacy. Today, both television and the web should focus on addressing functional illiteracy and equipping people with the skills to navigate the vast sea of the internet.

Functional illiteracy refers to those who, despite being literate, lose the ability to use written language to formulate and understand messages due to lack of practice. This regression has a direct impact on one’s ability to exercise citizenship rights--voting, access to information, workplace protections, and social integration. Semi-illiterates, or those with only elementary education, are most at risk. They could retain their literacy skills if adult education were a regular part of national educational policy.

In Italy, the combined rate of functional and regressive illiteracy affects 47% of the populatio--nearly one in two Italians struggles to fully comprehend what they read or hear.

This alarming statistic underscores the need for our mission: to foster a deeper understanding of the root causes of inequality and injustice.

Other data highlight the darker side of the web, particularly the prevalence of online offenses. The “Dossier Viminale 2024” reports 88,797 cybercrimes in the previous year, with 12,605 individuals investigated (of particular concern are the 4,252 cases of child pornography and online grooming, leading to 1,972 investigations). There were 16,077 cases of computer fraud (1,536 investigated) and 28,001 online scams (5,711 investigated).

Globally, we now spend over 12 trillion hours per year on social media.

Internet users have doubled in the past decade, with more than 5.5 billion active social media profile--over 62% of the world’s population. It’s worth noting that these profiles do not necessarily represent unique individuals, as many people maintain multiple accounts. In the last year alone, there was an increase of 266 million active profile--equivalent to 8.4 new social media users every second.

Currently, 5.61 billion people have internet access, and about 70% of the global population uses a mobile device.

Social media usage has tripled in the past ten years. Covid-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns have led to a surge in online activity, with average daily internet use approaching seven hours and social media usage around two and a half hours per day. The most active online demographic is aged 0–40, and alarmingly, there is a significant number of children aged 0–4 using the web.

This raises important questions: why can’t minors work or drive until age 14, yet have unfettered access to the web? Why isn’t there a digital license or identity requirement? Why do we have strict controls for work and driving, but so few for online activity?

An ever-growing loneliness

Another critical issue is loneliness. According to a 2020 survey in Il Sole 24 Ore, a growing number of Italians feel the unbearable weight of loneliness--a condition exacerbated by the pandemic, which created new vulnerabilities through isolation, discrimination, and increased distrust. Research suggests that people who feel lonely are more likely to perceive others as hostile and their surroundings as threatening. The more one relies on digital channels to stay connected, the more likely these feelings of discomfort intensify.

Social media plays a dual role: it can create the illusion of connection while deepening the sense of isolation.

Loneliness has been compared to obesity and smoking in terms of mortality risk and is linked to both physical and psychological health problems. Adults experiencing loneliness tend to have higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), increased blood pressure, sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular resistance issues. Over time, this leads to chronic inflammation and higher mortality rates.

Loneliness is also associated with depressive symptoms and unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and physical inactivity. It can further alienate individuals, reducing empathy and increasing feelings of threat and intolerance, ultimately undermining social cohesion.

For centuries, philosophers have reminded us that, as Aristotle first argued, humans are social animals. Yet, solitude--whether sought or imposed--remains a defining aspect of our lives. The English language distinguishes between “solitude” (a chosen state of intimacy) and “loneliness” (a sense of isolation, often unwanted). In psychology, loneliness is often described as isolation resulting from a lack of empathy or difficulties in forming relationships, sometimes linked to sociopathy or other conditions, and can lead to depression.

The World Health Organization estimates that mental health issues cost the global economy one trillion dollars annually. Loneliness, as a form of isolation, contributes significantly to these costs. It is no coincidence that the UK once considered establishing a Ministry for Loneliness. As then-Prime Minister May stated, “For too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life.” According to the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, over 9 million people in Britain--about 14% of the population--often or always feel lonely, costing UK employers up to $3.5 billion per year.

Social inclusion as the key

Social inclusion may be the key to combating loneliness, exclusion, and isolation. Here, law and legislation have a crucial role to play. The ability to interact with others--our social skills--is fundamental. From infancy, our survival depends on interaction with caregivers; as adults, we thrive and build complex societies through cooperation. Social skills are largely automatic, shaped by both experience and genetics. When opportunities for social interaction are removed, isolation leads to exclusion, with harmful consequences for individuals and society as a whole.

As Ferraresi writes, “In breaking free from authorities, hierarchies, and traditional constraints, modern man has found himself alone.” All forms of mediation--institutions, structures, systems, parties, churches, laws, customs, and even biological arrangements--have been dismantled.

Article 3 of the Italian Constitution states: “All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinions, or personal and social conditions.” It further asserts that “it is the Republic’s duty to remove economic and social obstacles that, by limiting the freedom and equality of citizens, prevent the full development of the human person and the effective participation of all workers in the political, economic, and social organization of the country.” Full human development requires participation. To prevent people from participating in society--directly or indirectly--means to exclude, isolate, and leave them in solitude.

This is why I am proud to have contributed to an organization committed to bridging these gaps. Wishing you all the best on this shared journey.