I had the same first reaction to the juxtaposition, but came to the conclusion that really what it does is call out another implied assertion that is nonsense.

I had the same first reaction to the juxtaposition, but came to the conclusion that really what it does is call out another implied assertion that is nonsense. A world with wifi on every corner could still have child sex slavery, and it shouldn't be difficult to imagine how or why. Yet, it is a common undercurrent, not always explicitly stated in the many corners of the nonprofit world, that there could be other explanations than social problems at the heart of these problems. It is important to recognize that disastrous social problems are possible even with better technology. Furthermore, though technology may aid in solutions, it is pretty extreme to say that wifi might be needed on every corner, even with that qualifier. What really helps people achieve some sort of self-actualization? Being well-nourished, educated, and having some form of control over their own destinies, are pretty good measures for me. I think that technology and economic progress has made it so that probably a couple billion people have a successful life under those criteria than in the past, yet for thousands of years there have been some people who lead fulfilling and successful lives without today's technology, and who had better lives than people who have any access to any technology right now. There is a subtle distinction between providing for shortcomings and the long term goals of addressing the root problems, and it has been the source of countless public policy mistakes. Perhaps one of the most obvious is public housing, where it seems obvious that people who are struggling to afford housing or homeless would be better off if that were no longer a concern.