Re:What Constant Surveillance Is Doing to Children
by jon128 on Wednesday November 11, 2026 @09:41AM
(#50454016)
In this decade and going forward, literacy in network protocols, cryptography, operating system, and userspace software is literacy. Lack of this is illiteracy.
Take a moment to remember that, among the masses, illiteracy rather than literacy has been the norm throughout history.
Perhaps surface knowledge of the applied uses of semiconductors and ISA-agnostic languages like C was a "niche" topic still in the 1970s. But for over a decade and a half now, carrying an internet edge device as Steve Jobs called the iPhone on one's person, among the most of relatively sophisticated (but not too sophisticated) professionals, has been the norm.
Nowadays in first world countries and large swaths of the third world countries too, "global south" not excluded, "everyone" carries an internet edge device on their person.
Knowledge of the applied uses of semiconducters, internet protocol, and ISA-agnostic languages, isn't really a "niche" anymore now is it?
Those of us with modern literacy who don't choose to practice ignorance of human nature, those who heeded Richard Stallman's warnings, will do fine.
For the illiterate and arrogantly naive, the coming decades and ultimately humanity in perpetuity may be very tough.
Take a moment to remember that, among the masses, illiteracy rather than literacy has been the norm throughout history.
Perhaps surface knowledge of the applied uses of semiconductors and ISA-agnostic languages like C was a "niche" topic still in the 1970s. But for over a decade and a half now, carrying an internet edge device as Steve Jobs called the iPhone on one's person, among the most of relatively sophisticated (but not too sophisticated) professionals, has been the norm.
Nowadays in first world countries and large swaths of the third world countries too, "global south" not excluded, "everyone" carries an internet edge device on their person.
Knowledge of the applied uses of semiconducters, internet protocol, and ISA-agnostic languages, isn't really a "niche" anymore now is it?
Those of us with modern literacy who don't choose to practice ignorance of human nature, those who heeded Richard Stallman's warnings, will do fine.
For the illiterate and arrogantly naive, the coming decades and ultimately humanity in perpetuity may be very tough.