Shaping Technology and Being Shaped by Technology by Jo Clifford

Learning about the "next big thing" is one of my favorite pursuits. Most days, I read the tech sections of various news sites and receive a daily email summary of what is new in AI. One of my ongoing challenges, however, is discernment: weeding out what might actually benefit my work and the global work of SIL, and what we simply need to set aside.

At the 2024 Lausanne Conference, an Occasional Paper explored how we, as humans, relate to technology. It discussed several lenses through which we view our tools:

1. As a tool

2. As a process

3. As a culture

4. As a spiritual artefact

5. As something that shapes—and is shaped by—culture

   
   

Ultimately, the article argued that technology is multifaceted and deeply value-laden. It suggested that a healthier relationship with technology begins by recognizing that our tools don’t exist in a vacuum; they are birthed from the values and worldviews of their creators and affected by their users.

A better way to consider an improved relationship between technology and humans is to recognize that our technologies are value-laden. That is, they exist and are used because of certain values and ways of seeing the world present in the human community that created the technology. These values shape what technologies to develop, the kinds of knowledge and processes used to make them, and the moral framework not just of their end use, but also how they shape and are shaped by the communities they are embedded in.

The M-PESA Example: A Case Study in Values

I saw this play out firsthand in Tanzania. In 2010, I was contacted by the head of mobile payment solutions for Vodafone. They were looking to implement M-PESA (mobile money) in the country and wanted feedback from local colleagues.

At the time, I thought mobile money was a brilliant idea. I knew how difficult it was to move money within the country; people in remote areas often traveled for hours just to reach a bank for cash. Being able to send money safely to friends and family was a high priority.

Sixteen years later, M-PESA is ubiquitous, and every major carrier offers a similar service. You can pay bills, catch a taxi, book flights, or even build a savings account—all via simple SMS messages on a basic phone.

What values are embedded here? I see the value of efficiency, the democratization of banking for the unbanked, and the clever harnessing of existing technology (simple phones) to empower the community. It is a technology built on the value of mutual support.

The Unforeseen Downsides

However, there is a flip side that I didn't see coming in 2010. My own mobile money account is often hit with spam or fraudulent messages. Scammers pretend to be struggling relatives, desperately pleading for cash. I’ve even seen messages claiming that "sending money will result in a blessing."

There are structural issues, too. Mobile money is a closed system; it costs more to send money to a different carrier. Perhaps most interestingly, it has changed social dynamics. Because money can be sent instantly, relatives ask for financial help much more frequently than they did in the past, potentially weakening the local neighbor-to-neighbor support systems that existed before.

Questions for Our Work

This raises vital questions for our ministry. In the work of media, we often highlight the positive impact of digital production and accessibility. We celebrate using Facebook, WhatsApp, or new audio recording software to spread the Word.

But do we stop to consider the underlying values we communicate by using these specific tools? Do we weigh the long-term changes we might be introducing to the communities we serve?

We cannot avoid every pitfall—we aren't God, and we cannot see the future. However, we serve a God who promises wisdom. As we navigate these technologies, we can continually seek His guidance. May He give us the discernment so that the media we create and the tools we use truly remain a blessing and an encouragement to the global community.

Food for thought

In your own context, how do you decide which "new things" in technology are worth adopting and which should be "left to one side"?

How can we ensure that the digital media we create doesn't accidentally create "closed systems" or barriers for those we are trying to serve?

How can we build "rhythms of reflection" into our projects to catch pitfalls earlier?

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Jo Clifford initially began her work with SIL Global as a Scripture Engagement Specialist in Tanzania. While working there she saw the importance of media for Bible translation and trained as a Media Specialist as well. After 10 years of living and working in Tanzania, Jo was asked to take on the role of International Media Services coordinator and has been based in Germany for the last six years. She continues as a Vernacular Media Consultant for SIL Tanzania.

Jo holds an MA in Applied Theology from Gloucester University, a Diploma in Biblical and Intercultural Studies from All Nations Christian College, and a BA in Linguistics from the University of Wales, Bangor.

Jo currently serves as GSAS Director, supporting the work of Scripture Access Services with partners and at all levels of SIL Global.