How on earth has data become an commodity?

I am talking about data that you use to surf the internet and to download or upload messages or graphics.

For some time this has been puzzling me, considering how we treat data as if it can save the world, change lives or provoke a revolution.

As far as I can remember, Data was a character in a Star Trek series, but in our day and age, data is merely something that is floating around in cyberspace.

All the great wars have always been about the greatest commodity on earth, which is land. With land comes resources, which are valuable commodities in their own right.

So I understand why water is a commodity of the utmost importance, and that you can actually use it to trade, to survive and to prosper.

Logically, this goes for other resources such as minerals (gold), gems and, of course, oil.

But somehow, in our modern world of advancing technology, data has suddenly become of great value. But why? You cannot eat it. You cannot drink it. It will not keep you warm. It will not bring you hope or joy. It can surely not love you or provide the meaning to life.

Yet we place great value on it! Strange, this world we live in.

Here in South Africa we pay a pretty penny for data. Yes, we pay a lot of cash so that we can surf the internet, chat on Facebook, use our phones and download apps, but despite all of this, how does data actually help society?

Sure, it aids in the sharing of information, but as far as I know, it cannot really solve the critical issues plaguing the world, such as poverty, or cure the numerous pandemics, or provide water for the thirsty, homes for the homeless or even proper lavatory services in the townships.

Yet, these days, organisations are offering data as a reward if you do business with them. And this includes giving you airtime.

Quite frankly, I don’t need airtime or data because that will not put food on the table!

I am also irked when you can win data when entering such or such competition. What about something tangible, concrete and worthwhile to win, like a tank of petrol!

I am sure Napoleon Bonaparte or Alexander the Great would not have risked their lives nor their limbs to conquer the modern-day commodity of data.

They were seeking something that can actually contribute to the welfare of their people and their country – land. All the great explorers ventured into the unknown seeking the tangible, which holds great opportunities, but these days our explorers rather seek to delve into the murky world of data that still cannot solve our country’s political instability or woes of corruption.

Data remains very expensive in this country and no matter the cost, people continue to pay out of their ears for it.

Yes, let us be frank, data has become almost like the new drug. We crave it, we seek it, we yearn for it, and if we don’t have it, our world falls apart. How utterly bizarre!

We will be willing to lay down our last two coins for data, even if it means we starve or our families suffer.

I need to emphasise the following truth – data cannot feed you, it cannot put a roof over your head or cure an illness. So why the obsession?

And I’m sure the current elections have not been a battle over data but ultimately over land, for then the powers that be can exert control to hopefully improve the lives of those living on that land.

Indeed, we live in crazy times where data is of insane and irrational high importance and priority, to such a point that in our pursuit of it we will forsake the true exploration of striving for noble morals and values.

Just saying.