A provocative question is being put to readers of The Guardian's long-running Notes & Queries series: should we consider turning off the internet? The discussion probes whether society would be better off reverting to a pre-digital, analogue existence.
The internet's impact on politics and society
The central premise of the debate is the profound influence the online world has had on public discourse and policy. It is argued that the internet has transformed fringe beliefs into mainstream political forces, citing the rise of authoritarianism and controversies around vaccines as key examples. With concerns mounting that these dynamics pose a direct threat to democratic institutions and basic freedoms, the conversation questions the very foundation of our connected lives.
Weighing the analogue alternative
The proposed alternative is a nostalgic return to a world defined by landline telephones, handwritten letters, and face-to-face conversations. This vision also includes the use of audiotapes and answering machines, or Ansaphones, painting a picture of a slower, perhaps more deliberate mode of communication. The question forces a cost-benefit analysis: what invaluable aspects of the online world would we sacrifice, and is that loss justified to safeguard liberal culture?
The query was submitted by Mees Visser from Groningen in the Netherlands, highlighting the global nature of this concern. The Guardian is actively soliciting responses from its readership, asking them to post answers below the article or email them to nq@theguardian.com.
How to join the conversation
Readers are encouraged to contribute their perspectives on this digital dilemma, as well as to propose new questions for the column. The publication has announced a brief festive hiatus for the series, with Notes & Queries taking a break on 28 December. A curated selection of replies to this pressing question, along with the next new query, is scheduled for publication on Sunday 4 January.
This debate touches on core themes of modern life, from the philosophy of technology and digital media ethics to the social and psychological impacts of platforms that dominate our daily routines. The outcome of this reader-driven exploration may shed light on our collective ambivalence towards the technology that both connects and divides us.
