Discipline needed to balance hyperconnectivity

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi said hyperconnectivity at the tip of one's fingers had left internet users with no time to think or censor the information load they freely receive.
As a result, they unwittingly share news that might not necessarily be accurate, or pictures that might not have been for public consumption.
Malaysia currently has about 35.7 million smartphone owners, he said.
According to the 2013/3014 Economic Report issued by the Finance Ministry last month, Malaysians are spending more time surfing the internet than on other media such as television, radio and newspapers.
"The internet penetration rate is 91%, with one in every three minutes hitting the social network line, 11.8 million Malaysians have Facebook accounts with more than 80% surfing the internet to access Facebook," he said at the National Undergraduates Leadership Conference 2014 (Pemanas 2014).
He said internet users in Malaysia are projected to increase by seven million in 2015, compared with just 18 million in 2012.
Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, who is the Politics, Security and International Affairs Cluster chief in the National Council of Professors, said hyperconnectivity is necessary in this age of communication and information technology. – Bernama