NGI SALON @ 4YFN

The past, present and future of (y)our internet

Target participants: Millennials (1980-2000)

Do you remember the first time you went on the internet? The (open) chat rooms and the pixeled snake? Past, present and future. By bringing (y)our internet memories and ideals together we will define what’s needed for a fair and sustainable digital future.

We start from the premise that Millennials don’t want to, nor can return to a fully analogue world. We must, therefore, learn how to deal positively with the advantages of the world wide web, and avoid its pitfalls.

Whilst the internet and the digital revolution have, doubtless, provided us with immensely powerful tools, they have also raised many ethical concerns. This is actually not surprising, since the digital revolution is still in its early adopting years. Just as the car and car usage have gone through many years of modernization (creation of new traffic rules, installation of airbags, seat belts etc.), ideas about how we use and should use online digital devices are only starting to be framed. If we want a digital future that reflects the needs of society and the environment, we need to think, discuss and act NOW.

Motivations, hopes, achievements: digging into solutions for major societal challenges, this salon aims to rebuild a Millennial’s portrayal that focuses not on how the internet has gone wrong, but the ways in which we believe it could be improved and contribute to a better society, thriving in a rich natural ecosystem. We will be mapping challenges and possible solutions towards a vision for a sustainable society in a technology-pervasive future.

Context

This activity is organized within the framework of the Next Generation Internet initiative launched by the European Commission. Results will be presented to the European Parliament.
The workshop is organized in collaboration with 4YFN.