Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROMOTING "ZOMBIENESS" IN OUR YOUTH

Today, as I went about my normal business - as a Project Manager and a local Kenyan Techie with varied interests,I come across a tweet.On a normal day,I will tweet about 20 + tweets ranging from Tech stuff,to personal stuff,to various things (As varied as my interests.) While at it I come across such a tweet:

" OrangeKenya: Enjoy more facebook on your phone with 50MB for Kshs. 50 a week. Send a blank SMS to "1234" to subscribe then dial... http://fb.me/tT4Uwdov"

Really,Kenya is busy lacking content despite the three fibre pipes in the country and a probable fourth one looming and all our famous Telkom Kenya/Orange can tout is our Youngsters to facebook more?You gotta be kidding me.If anything was to go by,facebook is destroying creative minds,and instead creating zombies and youngsters who can't think beyond facebook. I recall reading some statistics some time back to the effect that Kenya is one of the heaviest facebook users in Africa and our famous ISP is seeking to solidify that?Really? Again,this is thin line between what facebook can do and what are its effects on our youngsters.Am thinking more in line that when we promote use of facebook,what can we do with it?What else can we build from it to make something sensible?The kawaida banter of I saw you drunk e.t.c is what is being discussed heavily.We seem to cultivate a nature where "intellectualism" lacks and encouraging things that don't add any value to the GDP of our economy e.g. Socialization. Am not saying it bad to socialize and facebook,twitter and all the social networks provide an avenue to that, but bottom line how are the adding up to the Kenya's workforce?Is there a way we can promote that kshs. 50 to direct our energies to something else more profitable to the up-coming workforce,Say Research?Like if you ask me there is huge gap in mHealth.Any service provider willing to help on this?I doubt all we get is them promoting socialization networking sites.Wow...... Maybe we need to focus.

3 comments:

  1. I think as far as content creation is concerned, globally people who create are a small margin about 20-35%... The sad part is that in Sub Saharan Africa a small margin out of a 10% internet connected population demographic (eg. Kenya), is ultimately really small.. So we're for now stuck in a situation where it's the same voices talking and pushing content and the other by-standers watch or have no idea what's going on in active online communities. Perhaps our biggest hope is GEN C, see link below...

    http://www.strategy-business.com/article/11110?gko=64e54

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  2. I beg to differ with the writer.

    Social Media (Facebook, twitter and the rest) have all suddenly become a hotspot for any marketer that wants a brand visibility, this is owed to the fact that a bigger percentage of their target of their clients lie on Facebook.

    on the other hand, telecoms companies have seen this as an opportunity for growth, since everyone is on their phone Facebook-ing...its a win-win situation.

    Politics has also taken a good shape, thanks to the social media. Advocacy groups all over the world are using social media.

    I therefore see no zombi-sm in these youths spending their time on the social networks as long as they use them positively. Its in this sites where they may land jobs and contracts, others have found soulmates, others have reconnected and life seems to be on the brighter side.

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  3. In kenya, #kamaHaijatengenezwaNaMzungu, #siPoa. #endof. #SisemiMengi

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