Lino's thoughts 🤔

It’s hard to imagine life without smartphones or social media. Over the past 20 years, these tools have rewired how we connect, learn, and share. Now, more than 5 billion people worldwide are scrolling, posting, and liking on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Studies show the average person now spends 2.3 hours a day glued to these apps—more if you’re part of Gen Z or younger. It’s a revolution in access and expression, but it’s also a runaway train we’re struggling to steer. The problem? Technology has sprinted ahead, while our ability to use it wisely lags behind. A 2023 OECD report found that digital literacy is on the rise, but huge gaps persist—especially for older adults and those without much formal education. Without the skills to sift through the noise, millions are left exposed to misinformation, online harassment, and the subtle nudge of algorithms pulling strings behind the scenes. Echo Chambers: Comfort Zones or Traps? Ever notice how your social media feed fe...

The greatest challenge in understanding oneself lies in realising that our beliefs are not as objective as we often assume. They are shaped by invisible forces—our upbringing, culture, social surroundings, and personal experiences—all weaving together to create a lens through which we view the world. These beliefs become so deeply ingrained that they feel like unquestionable truths, guiding our decisions, emotions, and even our sense of identity.   From childhood, we absorb ideas without questioning them. The human brain, wired for survival and social belonging, clings to what it learns early in life. A child raised in a particular faith, for instance, may accept its teachings as absolute, not out of choice, but because it is the foundation of their world. A person growing up in a tight-knit community inherits its values, often without realising how much those surroundings have shaped them. As years pass, the brain reinforces these beliefs, filtering information in a way that ...