Our society really needs a digital detox when children think their family members live inside a computer. Photo / Thinkstock
Our society really needs a digital detox when children think their family members live inside a computer. Photo / Thinkstock
Some apps going too far, says Facebook’s former marketing chief.
Break-up apps and software that tells you whether you're right to take a "pee break" at the movies are proof society needs a "digital detox", Facebook's former marketing chief says.
Randi Zuckerberg, whose brother Mark created the social media site, says society has become so "plugged in" that we need to address our digital dependence.
Speaking in Brisbane this week, Ms Zuckerberg told a story about how her son's friend came over to play and referred to her laptop as "grandpa".
"His mum said, 'Oh, we Skype so much he thinks his grandpa lives inside the computer,'" Ms Zuckerberg said.
"So that's when I realised, 'Okay, our society really needs a digital detox when children think their family members live inside a computer.'"
Ms Zuckerberg said she wasn't a fan of break-up apps and was bewildered an app had been created to advise people when to take a toilet break at the movies.
"The only function of this app is when you are in a movie theatre and you're like, 'Oh my god I've got to pee, but I don't want to miss the best scene,'" she said.
"You call up this app and it's like, 'Nope, nothing good is going to happen for seven more minutes.'"
Ms Zuckerberg said she felt very passionately about "unplugging to refresh", one of 10 tech trends she outlined during her keynote presentation at the 2015 Asia Pacific Cities Summit where digital technology in cities has been a focus.
The founder of Zuckerberg Media, who is also an author and recently starred on Broadway, even performed a song she wrote about "unplugging" to the Brisbane crowd to hammer home her point.
Two years older than her brother, she served as Facebook's marketing director from 2005 until 2011.
Top 10 trends
Randi Zuckerberg, sister of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Photo / AP
Randi Zuckerberg, Facebook's former marketing chief, has outlined her favourite 10 tech trends - although she thinks the digital revolution has gone too far.
1.The age of the 'entremployee'
The lines between entrepreneurs and employees are becoming increasingly blurred. In the past you could either work for someone or start a company, but now there are so many ways employees can be entrepreneurial, Zuckerberg says.
2.Think like a media company
Businesses need to think like a media company, regardless of their size, and harness the power of social media. Red Bull, for example, has turned its social media presence into a popular live streaming action sports channel.
Imagine getting a free meal or hotel stay for simply putting a picture of your food or room on social media. This is actually a thing and is becoming more common as companies see the value of customer marketing power.
4. Start 'em early
"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo, teach your toddler how to code." Zuckerberg says it's a good idea to get your child interested in tech as soon as possible. There are toys designed to teach computer coding and even potties with iPads.
5. The maker movement
People are making everything from shoes to houses using 3D objects from digital files - and it's getting cheaper. "I can even imagine a world in the future when you don't have to pack luggage ... you just arrive and email yourself a few files and off you go with all your stuff," Zuckerberg says.
Virtual reality is increasingly becoming actual reality. Doctors are using virtual reality, although most real-life simulation involves video games. But games where you can put on a suit and feel the experience of killing people are an example of the "complicated side" of virtual reality, she says.
7. Life-logging
We can track almost anything in our lives. Companies have designed GPS bracelets for children, there are chairs that tell you when you aren't sitting straight and dog trackers that alert you when your pooch has spent the whole day on the couch.
8. New frontiers - education and healthcare
We've now got doctors and experts on demand, Zuckerberg says.
We can get lessons from all sorts of experts and coaches online and get real-time advice from medical professionals. Ultrasounds can be done via smartphones.
Scales that tweet your weight to the world - now there's some serious motivation to keep fit. And there's an alarm app that donates your cash to charity every time you press snooze. "A lot of game developers are starting to apply game mechanics to our everyday health and wellness," Zuckerberg says.
10.Unplug to refresh
We have become so plugged in that society needs a "digital detox" and break-up apps are proof of this, she says. "The pendulum is switching back. How do we reclaim time?"
