Welcome to 2019. We have been told that there are several must have skills, such as time management, adaptability, collaboration, persuasion, creativity, UX Design, People management, analytical reasoning, AI and Cloud computing. Below are 6 trends that will affect the internet in Kenya in the year 2019.
- Increased access
Smartphones are getting cheaper, cost of connectivity is decreasing, and internet coverage is growing. More people are getting online.
This is good news for a digital economy. Do not miss the train; purpose to be online.
- Privacy
In 2018, The European
Union started implementing the General data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This
law is meant to enhance privacy and protect the data of all the European Union citizens.
Many countries followed suit, and Kenya already has a Data Protection Bill which
is before the parliament and the senate, and its implementation will send
ripples in the whole IT industry.
Critics think that the laws will stifle innovation, considering that most tech
giants today have risen through an ability to access and process data. We hope
this will work to our good.
- Fake news
Donald Trump has a sensitive nose to fake news, and thanks to him, we all can smell fake news. Unfortunately, it is very hard to detect fake news, and depends on your believes and interest. If you think Kenya is in too much debt, you will likely agree with any news that suggests that Kenya is drowning in debt. If you hate a politician, you will agree with any news that paints him negatively.
With our biased lens, we will not easily identify fake news.
- Disconnecting/Unplugging
Many people already feel worn out by an overly connected world. We have notifications from our watches, phones, emails, computers, social media, alarms, microwaves, and many other smart devices. The constant blinking, ringing and buzzing of devices can be a productivity killer.
For those who want to unplug, there are a few steps you can take:
- Start by turning off unnecessary notifications from your phone. You can set it to be notified of only calls.
- Consider uninstalling applications such as social media apps. This makes it harder for you to log in to those sites, hence decreased access.
- Set specific time to check notifications, and ignore them at any other time.
- At worst, consider deactivating the offending apps.
- 2022
The year 2022 is 3 years away, but it feels like it is just next door. The internet will be full of 2022 activities, from early campaigns, political alignments, and general news. Wear your helmet.
- Cybersecurity
This is talked about in hushed tones, because our banks are at risk, our M-PESA balances are at risk, our data is not safe, and even the government is not safe. Socially engineered attacks will continue to affect banks and mobile money platforms, with the Kamiti brigade becoming smarter. Stay safe.
What do you think?