Thanks to technology, the world is at our fingertips, from the personalized computers in our pockets to self-driving cars. Technology is present and advancing many areas of our lives, improving communication, making information more accessible, changing transportation, among other improvements. It is easy to sit back and reap the benefits from the numerous technological advancements; however, we ought not to be blind to technology’s effects on society. Currently, society is heavily reliant on technology and shows no signs of diminishing its dependence. There are minor aspects of everyday life in the community that are either changing or have already changed, and these changes are so drastic that they have become the social norm.
Technology is influencing society; it might not be the way we imagined; we do not have flying cars yet, nor has artificial intelligence taken over the world. However, something that may seem simple to most shows the extent to which technology has affected and changed society; people no longer memorize phone numbers. This is because most phones, specifically smartphones, these days can carry hundreds of phone numbers that are just a click away. Most people, if they lost their phones, would have no idea how to contact anyone.
Do you often see a beautiful sunset and take out your phone to capture a few pictures? With easy access to phones, especially smartphones, people have stopped living in the moment. We have developed a habit; when we see something we want to remember or like, we often remove ourselves from the moment to snap a photo, which we share with our friends and family. We have started living in other people’s special moments instead of our own. These minor invasions by digital technology will in no way end human civilization as we know it; however, it is essential to acknowledge that technology is changing society.
There is concern on how society and technology will mesh, especially when it concerns children. Children have exposure to screens from a very early age, and they spend a lot of time in front of televisions and other forms of technology. This is changing how children socially interact. Today children text or message their friends rather than knocking on their front doors to play. Children who spend the majority of their time in front of screens have difficulty identifying human emotion, and their ability to empathize is hindered.
Technology might be highly beneficial to society, but each benefit comes with a potential cost. It is possible to advance society without impacting society too significantly. There is a balance to be found when it comes to the use of technology.
