The march of tech is is rotting much of what we once all took for granted, argues columnist Calum Steele

As Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s comes into effect today, a glimmer of optimism for the salvation of man is upon us.

We should hope this is the beginning of a new social contagion that infects the world. But unlike the contagions of the past which have hollowed us out as a species, leaving us as increasingly gormless specimens reliant on the benevolence of a few billionaires to be able to function, this one – I hope – will see the return of basic humanity, helping us hone our long-forgotten rudimentary survival and life skills, and lead to a realisation that not everything badged as progress should be embraced.

When I think back to the “use it or lose it” campaigns to save our post offices a few decades ago, you certainly couldn’t fault the snappiness of the message. Genuine community anxiety prevailed at the potential loss of places where not only did you buy your stamps and post your letters, air mail and parcels but could also grab a ¼ lb of loose sweets (just over 110 grams to you young uns), and engage in that now unfashionable habit of actual conversation. Clearly the campaign didn’t work as what were once a mainstay of every village and community was slowly lost as the march of modernity was unrelenting.

Read more by Calum Steele

I appreciate an alternative message of “use it or spend your days waiting at home for a time........

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