Digital Transformation Could Erode Trust and Social Capital

Prof. Jay Kishigami of the Web Consortium Asia Pacific has warned that the digital transformation (DX) era could weaken trust and social capital.

Speaking at the International Conference of St. Xavier’s College (ICSXC-2026) in Kathmandu, Kishigami said cultural change is among the most significant impacts of digital transformation. He raised the question of whether a digital society is making people happier.

Prof. Gulmora Hundley of the University of Central Florida, another keynote speaker, said mental health should be treated as an institutional responsibility linked to culture. She noted that young people are experiencing loneliness despite having access to numerous online resources.

Themed “Reimagining the Global Future with Youth at the Crossroads of Change,” the third edition of ICSXC brought together more than 300 research students, scholars and academicians from Nepal and several other countries.

The biennial conference was co-hosted by institutions including Ritsumeikan University, Universitat Politècnica de València, Web Consortium Asia Pacific and Women’s Christian College.