Adversary use of Social Media and Technology in 10 years

I answered a question which contained the title on a group on LinkedIn and wanted to share my response and expand just a little.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe any mainstream scientists are looking out ten years. Next year, perhaps, but next year is almost projecting too far out.  Moore’s law and all that. There are little nodes, niche offices, which are looking out a generation or two.  Where they are, I don’t know.

Adversary? Todays friend is tomorrow’s enemy and vice versa. I can’t even count on some nation-states being in existence in ten years.  There are a lot of non-State actors on the rise and anarchists seem to enabling the technologies needed to supersede nation states.  There are basic problems with the concept of anarchy, so I don’t believe they will gain a true foothold.

Talking generically, perhaps a prediction can be made.

Something to bear in mind, if you will. I presented a class a few months ago, at Drexel University, about security and future technologies. Anywhere from ten to fifteen years from now some are predicting we will reach a point of singularity. At this point computers will be as smart and talented as their human creators.  After that giant strides will be made, humans partnering with computer assistance and input.

We’ve already passed the point of the beginning of wearable computers, on Apple Watches and Google Glass, for instance. We’re even seeing the advent of computer implants.

Put the internet on steroids, give it ten years. Turn up the heat and stir.

Ten years from now. 2025. I don’t think the brain/computer interface will be seamless yet, but it will be within grasp. Social media will be almost ubiquitous, but will probably but very generic.  It may be known as “the board”, “the forum” and will be a place within reach for everybody. Stills and vid will be in a cloud, connectivity will be everywhere there is a building nearby. I put it up versus uploaded, meaning anyone can reach it.

This raises the question of haves and have-nots.  Third world countries may still access the interweb (or simply the web) through cell phones and smart phones only, I can’t see the world’s economy changing that drastically in ten years.  Nation-States are going to fight like hell for their existence, we’ll certainly observe some very self-centered behavior, blockage of innovation and promotion of more corporations and oligarchs. The worst of mankind versus the best, I honestly can’t express an opinion which is good because both have their faults and advantages.

After this it gets fuzzy. I have my opinion that ‘we’ are going to see a reduction in individual mental evolution at the expense of a socialized (literally) – shared experience. I’m struggling to see how extraordinary talent and genius can be harnessed if we’re so limited by a ‘shared experience’ environment.

Articles expanding on this? Fuhgedaboutit. Perhaps the World Future Society, the CEO is a friend, but even DARPA is limiting their projections to three years max. Office of Net Assessments, perhaps…