Context:
Fast forward 80 years, how will the society norms change?
What will be the measure of someone’s worth?
How will virtual and synthetic creations change relationships?
As always let look at the past to reflect on how society has changed.
Money was invented over 5000 years ago. Money has value because we believe it does. Having money is synonymous with having power to influence or control others.
· 1776 the concept of free market was established.
· 1970s the foreign exchange came into being.
· 1990’s the electronic fund transfers began the shift away from cash. Today less than 20% of transactions involve cash.
· 2009 cryptocurrency was invented as an alternative to money.
Global Communities are becoming more comfortable with non-traditional sexual ideologies.
· 1948 universal human rights were declared.
· 1990’s homosexuality is no longer a criminal offence in most countries.
· 2000’s Gay marriage has been legalised in most countries.
· Governments have traditionally been vested with power over the population they represent.
Today governments are struggling to meet the expectations of the people, particularly those under 25 years of age. Dissatisfaction levels with politicians is at record levels. Social media provides the platform for influencers to speak freely to millions of followers faster than ever before.
· Will the current model for democracy survive the next 80 years? Should it survive?
· Competition for resources has intensified. Ecological indicators are flashing warning signals. Earth only has a finite capacity.
· How can the traditional state-based governance structures meet what are global requirements? There is a need for speed to act on climate that state based structures cannot achieve.
Social media platforms have created influencers with global reach. The number of followers dictates an influencer’s power. Anyone with a million followers on a major social media network can easily earn thousands of dollars by posting content. Followers equals influence, almost making money redundant. Powerful influencers can attract the money they require when they need it. Crowd fund me pages can accumulate thousands and millions of dollars in days to support a cause.
· Will money still be still in use in 80 years? Maybe influence will become how the value of a person is determined.
How will the ability to create a subservient intelligent companion change relationships between people?
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Discussion:
Let us explore the questions.
Will money still be still in use in 80 years? Will influence replace money?
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Social media has captivated the eyeballs of many and has become part of daily life (see chart below).
Facebook has become a trillion-dollar company in little over a decade. In that timeframe, the number of influencers has grown to around 38 million.
People are talking about the need for a universal wage as the gap between the super-rich and the rest of the population grows. For the super-rich access to money poses no limits on what they can do.
Global debt of governments is approaching 300 trillion dollars. Economists argue that this debt may never be paid. At what point does the imagined value of money no longer hold?
In the next 80 years the nature of work will change. The progressive automation of labour intensive or repetitive tasks is expected to grow exponentially. Autonomous mine truck and train operations are already in place.
Work is changing. The Covid 19 pandemic highlighted how much of what people call work today can be done remotely.
In 2101: Spark of Hope, influence (measured by the number of followers) has replaced money. The basic needs of people are provided for. Consumption is tracked by online systems. Those with greater influence can access more discretionary resources and services.
Will the current model for democracy survive the next 80 years? Should it survive?
Leaders of democratic countries consistently suggest that democracy is under attack. Cyber-attacks from hostile foreign actors and attacks by the disenfranchised people in those countries. Recent surveys estimate dissatisfaction is approaching 60%. Regime changes taking place in non-democratic countries does not suggest more benevolent dictatorships is the solution.
The world is increasingly connected through commerce, consumption of resources, law, travel, and ecological disruption. When and how will a truly global governance model be established? Some say never, there are just too many players. Maybe this kind of change requires a revolution? Could climate change be the catalyst? It is predicted that large populations may be forced to flee uninhabitable parts of the world, desperate to find food, water and shelter. In 2101: Spark of Hope the need to care for one planet brings about a new global governance model.
How will the ability to create a subservient companion change relationships?
The ability to create cost effective companions could dilute the relationship between power and sex in society. Greater transparency and the importance of emotional intelligence to attract followers is likely to diminish the value of brute strength to get your way. Advanced human-like robots or clones designed to serve their owner may open new relationship classes.
It seems likely that a preference for female leaders will increase. Titles based upon sex such as Mr and Ms will certainly disappear.
The brain health benefits of pleasurable safe sex experiences will be better understood. Sex as a mind -body therapy may become common place. 2101: Spark of Hope explores more fluid ideas about sex in a pre-dominant female population.
Quotes:
"We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead." -Beyoncé
"Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences." -J. K. Rowling
"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand
“When eventually there are intelligent robots indistinguishable from humans…not only are we likely to choose them over ‘real’ humans but psychologically we will not suffer if we are not able to tell the difference.” Dr. Helen Driscoll
“governments may have to consider stronger safety nets and eventually Universal Basic Income” Antonio Guterres
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