Circa 2011: We are entering a brave new world of on-the-go, almost everywhere video calling. Are you ready for the consequences?
When Apple introduced FaceTime calling, a feature that lets people video call from their cell phones, from around the world, it was heralded as a breakthrough feature and the beginning of a revolution in the way in which we keep in touch with our friends and loved ones. But FaceTime and the copycat services which have followed carry with them a whole new set of questions about privacy, personal space, surveillance and perhaps most importantly, trust.
At first glance it all seems innocent enough. We can easily imagine the many times that mobile video calling would be great to have. Families separated by long distances, friends showing each other their surroundings or having a face to face conversation from across the country, but once these video-call capable devices permeate our lives (which they will) and the face to face call becomes expected rather than just occasional (which it might), it is not hard to see the many troubles it could cause.
We have already traded so much of our privacy in exchange for connectivity. Now we are moving towards an ever present and pervasive surveillance society in which we no longer take someone's word for truth but have to see with our own prying eyes.
Parents sitting at home could "check in" on their kids at college or when they're out on the town via a direct video link to their kids' location. How will this effect teenagers learning to be independent and parents learning to let go? How will this effect the bonds that are strengthened when people have to trust each other rather than just use technology to keep tabs on each other? Who needs trust any more? We've got video!
This may be an overly pessimistic few of this new video calling feature and as I've said before, it does provide a nice way for people to stay in touch. Perhaps I'll write a second article detailing the many positive contributions mobile video calling might bring to our society but the potential consequences are too significant to ignore.
Do You Have Something To Hide?
In the not so distant future a new dilemma will arise: When to accept or deny the video call? Maybe you just don't want to be on video, you are having a bad hair day. Maybe you're not exactly where you said you would be or not doing what you said you were doing, or maybe you are on the bus or in public and not in the right space for it. Does rejecting a video call mean you are probably lying about something? Imagine a boss checking in on her employees or a jealous boyfriend demanding the FaceTime call and getting angry if it is rejected. This is the future that awaits us.
In just one generation our patterns of communication have evolved drastically, from the pre-Internet, pre-cell phone era to the omni-connectedness in which we live today. Now we enter an even newer phase. A phase in which words are not enough. Where video replaces trust.
Video calling has its benefits, no doubt, just be aware of the consequences that might follow.
Disclosure: Long Apple