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The Positive and Negative Impact of Technology on Society

Table of contents, introduction, positive impacts of technology on society, negative impacts of technology on society, striking a balance, works cited, enhanced communication, medical advancements, accessibility of information, economic growth and job creation, privacy concerns, mental health issues, environmental degradation, social disconnection, job displacement due to automation.

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Relationships Articles & More

What makes technology good or bad for us, how technology affects our well-being partly depends on whether it strengthens our relationships..

Everyone’s worried about smartphones. Headlines like “ Have smartphones destroyed a generation? ” and “ Smartphone addiction could be changing your brain ” paint a bleak picture of our smartphone addiction and its long-term consequences. This isn’t a new lament—public opinion at the advent of the newspaper worried that people would forego the stimulating pleasures of early-morning conversation in favor of reading the daily .

Is the story of technology really that bad? Certainly there’s some reason to worry. Smartphone use has been linked to serious issues, such as dwindling attention spans , crippling depression , and even increased incidence of brain cancer . Ultimately, though, the same concern comes up again and again: Smartphones can’t be good for us, because they’re replacing the real human connection of the good old days.

Everyone’s heard how today’s teens just sit together in a room, texting, instead of actually talking to each other. But could those teenagers actually be getting something meaningful and real out of all that texting?

The science of connection

A quick glance at the research on technology-mediated interaction reveals an ambivalent literature. Some studies show that time spent socializing online can decrease loneliness , increase well-being , and help the socially anxious learn how to connect to others. Other studies suggest that time spent socializing online can cause loneliness , decrease well-being , and foster a crippling dependence on technology-mediated interaction to the point that users prefer it to face-to-face conversation.

It’s tempting to say that some of these studies must be right and others wrong, but the body of evidence on both sides is a little too robust to be swept under the rug. Instead, the impact of social technology is more complicated. Sometimes, superficially similar behaviors have fundamentally different consequences. Sometimes online socialization is good for you, sometimes it’s bad, and the devil is entirely in the details.

This isn’t a novel proposition; after all, conflicting results started appearing within the first few studies into the internet’s social implications, back in the 1990s. Many people have suggested that to understand the consequences of online socialization, we need to dig deeper into situational factors and circumstances. But what we still have to do is move beyond recognition of the problem to provide an answer: When, how, and why are some online interactions great, while others are dangerous?

The interpersonal connection behaviors framework

As a scientist of close relationships, I can’t help but see online interactions differently from thinkers in other fields. People build relationships by demonstrating their understanding of each other’s needs and perspectives, a cyclical process that brings them closer together. If I tell you my secrets, and you respond supportively, I’m much more likely to confide in you again—and you, in turn, are much more likely to confide in me.

This means that every time two people talk to each other, an opportunity for relationship growth is unfolding. Many times, that opportunity isn’t taken; we aren’t about to have an in-depth conversation with the barista who asks for our order. But connection is always theoretically possible, and that’s true whether we’re interacting online or face-to-face.

Close relationships are the bread and butter of happiness—and even health. Being socially isolated is a stronger predictor of mortality than is smoking multiple cigarettes a day . If we want to understand the role technology plays in our well-being, we need to start with the role it plays in our relationships.

And it turns out that the kind of technology-mediated interactions that lead to positive outcomes are exactly those that are likely to build stronger relationships. Spending your time online by scheduling interactions with people you see day in and day out seems to pay dividends in increased social integration . Using the internet to compensate for being lonely just makes you lonelier; using the internet to actively seek out connection has the opposite effect .

“The kind of technology-mediated interactions that lead to positive outcomes are exactly those that are likely to build stronger relationships”

On the other hand, technology-mediated interactions that don’t really address our close relationships don’t seem to do us any good—and might, in fact, do us harm. Passively scrolling through your Facebook feed without interacting with people has been linked to decreased well-being and increased depression post-Facebook use.

That kind of passive usage is a good example of “ social snacking .” Like eating junk food, social snacking can temporarily satisfy you, but it’s lacking in nutritional content. Looking at your friends’ posts without ever responding might make you feel more connected to them, but it doesn’t build intimacy.

Passive engagement has a second downside, as well: social comparison . When we compare our messy lived experiences to others’ curated self-presentations, we are likely to suffer from lowered self-esteem , happiness, and well-being. This effect is only exacerbated when we consume people’s digital lives without interacting with them, making it all too easy to miss the less photogenic moments of their lives.

Moving forward

The interpersonal connection behaviors framework doesn’t explain everything that might influence our well-being after spending time on social media. The internet poses plenty of other dangers—for two examples, the sense of wasting time or emotional contagion from negative news. However, a focus on meaningful social interaction can help explain decades of contradictory findings. And even if the framework itself is challenged by future work, its central concept is bound to be upheld: We have to study the details of how people are spending their time online if we want to understand its likely effects.

In the meantime, this framework has some practical implications for those worried about their own online time. If you make sure you’re using social media for genuinely social purposes, with conscious thought about how it can improve your life and your relationships, you’ll be far more likely to enjoy your digital existence.

This article was originally published on the Behavioral Scientist . Read the original article .

About the Author

Jenna Clark

Jenna Clark, Ph.D. , is a senior behavioral researcher at Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight, where she works to help people make healthy decisions in spite of themselves. She's also interested in how technology contributes to our well-being through its effect on our close personal relationships.

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Essay on the Positive and Negative Effects of Technology

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The advent and evolution of technology have brought about profound changes in society, impacting almost every aspect of modern life. While technology has yielded numerous benefits, it has also introduced several challenges and concerns. This essay explores both the positive and negative effects of technology on various facets of human life.

On the positive side, technology has revolutionized communication, making it easier, faster, and more efficient. With the advent of the internet, social media, and mobile communication, people can connect with others across the globe instantly.

This has facilitated not just personal communication but also broadened the scope for global business and educational opportunities. Additionally, technology has significantly advanced healthcare, leading to improved diagnostics, treatments, and increased life expectancy. The accessibility of information and digital resources has also enhanced education and learning processes, making knowledge more accessible to a wider audience.

Another positive impact of technology is seen in the realm of productivity and efficiency. Automation and digital tools have streamlined various processes in industries, reducing manual labor and enhancing precision. This has led to increased productivity and innovation, contributing to economic growth and development. Moreover, technology has played a critical role in advancing research and development across various fields, leading to groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.

However, the negative effects of technology are equally significant. One of the primary concerns is the impact on mental health and well-being. The overuse of digital devices and social media has been linked to issues like anxiety, depression, and social isolation, especially among younger populations. Additionally, the digital divide and access to technology remain significant challenges, leading to disparities in information access and technological benefits.

Another downside of technology is the threat to privacy and security. With the increasing amount of personal data being shared online, individuals are more susceptible to privacy breaches, identity theft, and cybercrimes. Furthermore, the reliance on technology has led to concerns over job displacement due to automation, raising questions about the future of work and employment stability.

Environmental concerns are also associated with technology. The production and disposal of electronic devices contribute to environmental degradation and e-waste, posing challenges for sustainable development. Additionally, the energy consumption required to power digital infrastructures has implications for global energy resources and climate change.

In conclusion, technology has a dual impact on society, offering numerous benefits in terms of communication, healthcare, education, and productivity, while also presenting challenges related to mental health, privacy, job security, and environmental sustainability. Balancing these positive and negative aspects is crucial for harnessing the potential of technology in a way that benefits society as a whole.

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Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Society

In the current day and age, technology has become an integral part of our lives. From smartphones to computers and even autonomous cars, it has revolutionized the way we live.

However, along with its innumerable benefits comes a host of potential drawbacks. This article seeks to explore and analyze the positive and negative impacts of technology on society, providing valuable insights into this multifaceted phenomenon.

Positive Impacts of Technology on Society

In this ever-changing technological landscape, the positive impacts of technology on society cannot be ignored.

We are living in an age where advancements in technology have made life more convenient and efficient than ever before.

By utilizing cutting-edge tools and techniques, humanity has been able to break down many barriers that previously kept us from achieving our goals.

From providing improved healthcare services to increasing access to education, there is no denying the fact that technology has had a profoundly salutary effect on our lives.

With the advent of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and machine learning algorithms, we now have unprecedented capabilities which allow us to solve complex problems with ease and precision.

In addition, by leveraging modern communication systems we can now connect with people around the globe instantaneously – something that would have been impossible just a decade ago!

Let’s discuss some common positive impacts of technology on society.

1. Speed and easiness of traveling

The speed and easiness of traveling have been enhanced with the help of advanced technology. The positive impacts of technology on society can be witnessed in various fields, including transportation.

From supersonic speeds to self-driving cars, there is an ever-growing list of technological advances that are making life easier for people all around the world.

Train systems and air travel know no bounds when it comes to speed; they’re able to traverse vast distances in a matter of hours, allowing a person to go from one side of the globe to the other within a day.

Automated modes such as Uber and Lyft provide convenience for those who may not have access to public transport or reliable taxi services.

Even more impressive is the advent of driverless cars; these vehicles use sensors and software algorithms to navigate roads safely without any human input.

2. Education (EdTech)

This is an era of immense technological progress, and its positive impacts on society are undeniable. EdTech, or educational technology, has revolutionized the way students learn and engage with their educational materials.

Through EdTech, educators can create interactive learning experiences that promote student collaboration and exploration.

EdTech provides access to high-quality resources to all students regardless of their geographic location, social status, or economic background.

By embracing EdTech in classrooms worldwide, children can gain exposure to different cultures and customs as well as access to valuable knowledge previously unavailable due to financial constraints.

Additionally, the increased engagement enabled by EdTech encourages critical thinking skills among learners while providing a more equitable education system for everyone involved.

3. Makes shopping hassle-free, affordable, and quick

Technology has made huge strides in revolutionizing the way we shop in recent years, making it both affordable and convenient. As a result, shopping has become hassle-free and quick, bringing tremendous positive impacts to our society.

The impact of technology on shopping is immense. With just a few clicks on a computer or taps on a smartphone, people can make orders from almost anywhere at any time.

No longer do shoppers need to stand in long lines or waste their time hopping from one store to another for the best deals; now they can get what they want with ease through online stores and apps.

Moreover, modern technologies enable buyers to compare prices quickly, helping them find the most suitable product with the lowest cost.

These impressive advances have changed day-to-day life for many people by enhancing accessibility and efficiency when it comes to shopping.

4. Safer Management of Money

One of the positive impacts of technology on society is its role in improving the safety and security of money management.

With features like financial tracking tools and cyber security protocols, technology has enabled us to better safeguard monetary transactions.

For starters, consumers benefit from digital banking platforms that not only offer convenience but also crucial fraud protection measures such as two-factor authentication services.

Moreover, online wallets and payment processors allow people to store their funds in secure virtual accounts without worrying about data breaches or interception by malicious actors.

By leveraging advanced encryption techniques, these solutions provide a secure environment for securely transferring money across distances with minimal risk.

Overall, technology has allowed us to manage our finances with greater efficiency and confidence than ever before; giving us more control over our assets while eliminating potential sources of financial harm.

5. Equal opportunities

By providing us with unprecedented access to resources and information, technology has enabled us to make leaps in progress that were previously unimaginable.

Technology has allowed for greater equity amongst people, as it opens doors otherwise closed due to financial or geographical limitations.

The rapid rate at which technological advancements have been made over the past decade has resulted in increased equal opportunities for all individuals within a society.

Not only do technological advancements provide a platform for better education and communication capabilities, but they also enable greater access to job markets through networking platforms such as LinkedIn or by reducing the cost of business operations with cloud computing applications.

Additionally, improved mobile devices and wireless networks grant users from disadvantaged backgrounds more opportunities to enter into competitive industries like finance or healthcare.

Negative Impacts of Technology on Society

With the emergence of computers, tablets, and smartphones, it has become almost ubiquitous for individuals to access the digital world with ease.

However, this convenience is not without cost. The use of technology has been linked to deleterious effects on mental health as well as physical health due to sedentary lifestyles.

Moreover, individuals may be exposed to cyberbullying or other potentially dangerous online activities.

Furthermore, there are many concerns with regard to privacy when using technology as one’s data may be collected by companies in order to manipulate public opinion or even worse invade one’s private life.

All in all, it is important that people understand the consequences that come with utilizing technology so that they can better protect themselves and make informed decisions about their usage habits.

Let’s discuss some negative impacts of technology on society to make it even more clear.

1. Depression and Other Mental Health Issues

It is no surprise that technology has had a profound effect on society as a whole; however, it can also have an adverse impact on mental health.

Particularly, depression and other mental health issues are escalating due to the negative effects that tech can have on people.

From increased feelings of social isolation to heightened pressure to succeed in comparison to others online, people are exposed to more stress than ever before.

The rise of smartphones and tablets has also made it harder for individuals to find downtime away from their devices and practice self-care techniques like mindfulness or relaxation exercises.

As more people become tethered to their screens they may start feeling overwhelmed by what they see each day – leading them down a path toward depression or other mood disorders.

2. Technology leaves us feeling isolated

One of the most insidious outcomes of modern technology is the way it can lead to feelings of isolation in those who use it.

In an era where social media dominates and face-to-face interactions become increasingly rare, people are finding themselves more disconnected than ever before despite being surrounded by a web of digital contacts.

One does not have to look far for evidence that technology is diminishing our capacity for meaningful human relationships.

Cyberbullying, social media addiction and other forms of online harassment are all symptoms of a society that is becoming increasingly desensitized to personal connection.

There’s no denying that the convenience and immediacy provided by modern gadgets make communication easier than ever before but this comes at a cost as we become more reliant on devices and less reliant on each other.

3. Technology is addictive

Humans have become so enamored with technology that it has become an addiction for many. Technology is seemingly everywhere, from computers to cell phones and tablets, and this fast-paced environment can have a negative effect on society

The overuse of technology not only causes physical changes in the brain but also creates a lack of communication and interpersonal skills, as well as depression.

The digital world we live in today has created distractions that can interfere with our daily lives. By spending excessive amounts of time sitting in front of screens, people are missing out on valuable communication experiences that could help them grow emotionally and socially.

This disconnection from the real world affects social development and often leads to feelings of unhappiness or even depression.

4. Privacy and security

As technology continues to evolve, the negative impacts on society become more and more prevalent.

Privacy and security are essential components of our lives that are continuously put at risk as a result of increased tech usage.

Whether it’s through data breaches or malicious cyberattacks, technology has allowed for easier access to our personal information in negative ways.

Unfortunately, the threats posed by hackers and malicious actors have not waned with the rise of digital privacy measures like encryption software.

In fact, due to the large number of connected devices used today especially smartphones, cybercrime has only heightened in its reach and impact.

While there are many positive aspects to technological advancements such as increased efficiency and convenience, it’s important to be aware that these same technologies can also be exploited for nefarious purposes if used recklessly or without proper security measures in place.

5. Technology promotes a shorter attention span

Unfortunately, the omnipresence of technology can have a deleterious effect on attention spans, adversely impacting our communities and societies.

The proliferation of technology has resulted in an ever-narrowing scope for human attention; as we are bombarded with notifications and alerts from multiple devices, our capacity to focus is significantly diminished.

This short-termism has resulted in reduced cognitive acuity among members of society, leading to a cultural shift towards prioritizing instant gratification over long-term planning or meaningful engagement with tasks.

Consequently, negative impacts such as decreased productivity levels or weakened interpersonal connections are being felt across our communities.

Conclusion on the Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Society

In conclusion, technology has undeniably had both positive and negative impacts on society. While it has undoubtedly allowed for some incredible advancements, it has also brought with it some concerning consequences.

Nevertheless, with a responsible approach to its use, technology can continue to be a force for good and help us all create a better world.

We must each take responsibility and commit to using technology ethically and responsibly. Let us aim to use technology in ways that benefit all of humanity in order to create a brighter future for generations to come.

Relevant Resources:

• Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Child Development
• Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Communication
• Positive and Negative Impacts of Science and Technology on Politics
• Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Business
• Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on Education

Ahmad Ali (Author)

Ahmad Ali has been a technology enthusiast and writer for the past 5 years having vast knowledge of technology.

Rehmat Ullah (Content Reviewer)

Rehmat Ullah is a software engineer and CEO of Softhat IT Solutions. He is an expert technologist, entrepreneur, and educationist.

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Promises and Pitfalls of Technology

Politics and privacy, private-sector influence and big tech, state competition and conflict, author biography, how is technology changing the world, and how should the world change technology.

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Josephine Wolff; How Is Technology Changing the World, and How Should the World Change Technology?. Global Perspectives 1 February 2021; 2 (1): 27353. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2021.27353

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Technologies are becoming increasingly complicated and increasingly interconnected. Cars, airplanes, medical devices, financial transactions, and electricity systems all rely on more computer software than they ever have before, making them seem both harder to understand and, in some cases, harder to control. Government and corporate surveillance of individuals and information processing relies largely on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and therefore involves less human-to-human contact than ever before and more opportunities for biases to be embedded and codified in our technological systems in ways we may not even be able to identify or recognize. Bioengineering advances are opening up new terrain for challenging philosophical, political, and economic questions regarding human-natural relations. Additionally, the management of these large and small devices and systems is increasingly done through the cloud, so that control over them is both very remote and removed from direct human or social control. The study of how to make technologies like artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things “explainable” has become its own area of research because it is so difficult to understand how they work or what is at fault when something goes wrong (Gunning and Aha 2019) .

This growing complexity makes it more difficult than ever—and more imperative than ever—for scholars to probe how technological advancements are altering life around the world in both positive and negative ways and what social, political, and legal tools are needed to help shape the development and design of technology in beneficial directions. This can seem like an impossible task in light of the rapid pace of technological change and the sense that its continued advancement is inevitable, but many countries around the world are only just beginning to take significant steps toward regulating computer technologies and are still in the process of radically rethinking the rules governing global data flows and exchange of technology across borders.

These are exciting times not just for technological development but also for technology policy—our technologies may be more advanced and complicated than ever but so, too, are our understandings of how they can best be leveraged, protected, and even constrained. The structures of technological systems as determined largely by government and institutional policies and those structures have tremendous implications for social organization and agency, ranging from open source, open systems that are highly distributed and decentralized, to those that are tightly controlled and closed, structured according to stricter and more hierarchical models. And just as our understanding of the governance of technology is developing in new and interesting ways, so, too, is our understanding of the social, cultural, environmental, and political dimensions of emerging technologies. We are realizing both the challenges and the importance of mapping out the full range of ways that technology is changing our society, what we want those changes to look like, and what tools we have to try to influence and guide those shifts.

Technology can be a source of tremendous optimism. It can help overcome some of the greatest challenges our society faces, including climate change, famine, and disease. For those who believe in the power of innovation and the promise of creative destruction to advance economic development and lead to better quality of life, technology is a vital economic driver (Schumpeter 1942) . But it can also be a tool of tremendous fear and oppression, embedding biases in automated decision-making processes and information-processing algorithms, exacerbating economic and social inequalities within and between countries to a staggering degree, or creating new weapons and avenues for attack unlike any we have had to face in the past. Scholars have even contended that the emergence of the term technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries marked a shift from viewing individual pieces of machinery as a means to achieving political and social progress to the more dangerous, or hazardous, view that larger-scale, more complex technological systems were a semiautonomous form of progress in and of themselves (Marx 2010) . More recently, technologists have sharply criticized what they view as a wave of new Luddites, people intent on slowing the development of technology and turning back the clock on innovation as a means of mitigating the societal impacts of technological change (Marlowe 1970) .

At the heart of fights over new technologies and their resulting global changes are often two conflicting visions of technology: a fundamentally optimistic one that believes humans use it as a tool to achieve greater goals, and a fundamentally pessimistic one that holds that technological systems have reached a point beyond our control. Technology philosophers have argued that neither of these views is wholly accurate and that a purely optimistic or pessimistic view of technology is insufficient to capture the nuances and complexity of our relationship to technology (Oberdiek and Tiles 1995) . Understanding technology and how we can make better decisions about designing, deploying, and refining it requires capturing that nuance and complexity through in-depth analysis of the impacts of different technological advancements and the ways they have played out in all their complicated and controversial messiness across the world.

These impacts are often unpredictable as technologies are adopted in new contexts and come to be used in ways that sometimes diverge significantly from the use cases envisioned by their designers. The internet, designed to help transmit information between computer networks, became a crucial vehicle for commerce, introducing unexpected avenues for crime and financial fraud. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, designed to connect friends and families through sharing photographs and life updates, became focal points of election controversies and political influence. Cryptocurrencies, originally intended as a means of decentralized digital cash, have become a significant environmental hazard as more and more computing resources are devoted to mining these forms of virtual money. One of the crucial challenges in this area is therefore recognizing, documenting, and even anticipating some of these unexpected consequences and providing mechanisms to technologists for how to think through the impacts of their work, as well as possible other paths to different outcomes (Verbeek 2006) . And just as technological innovations can cause unexpected harm, they can also bring about extraordinary benefits—new vaccines and medicines to address global pandemics and save thousands of lives, new sources of energy that can drastically reduce emissions and help combat climate change, new modes of education that can reach people who would otherwise have no access to schooling. Regulating technology therefore requires a careful balance of mitigating risks without overly restricting potentially beneficial innovations.

Nations around the world have taken very different approaches to governing emerging technologies and have adopted a range of different technologies themselves in pursuit of more modern governance structures and processes (Braman 2009) . In Europe, the precautionary principle has guided much more anticipatory regulation aimed at addressing the risks presented by technologies even before they are fully realized. For instance, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation focuses on the responsibilities of data controllers and processors to provide individuals with access to their data and information about how that data is being used not just as a means of addressing existing security and privacy threats, such as data breaches, but also to protect against future developments and uses of that data for artificial intelligence and automated decision-making purposes. In Germany, Technische Überwachungsvereine, or TÜVs, perform regular tests and inspections of technological systems to assess and minimize risks over time, as the tech landscape evolves. In the United States, by contrast, there is much greater reliance on litigation and liability regimes to address safety and security failings after-the-fact. These different approaches reflect not just the different legal and regulatory mechanisms and philosophies of different nations but also the different ways those nations prioritize rapid development of the technology industry versus safety, security, and individual control. Typically, governance innovations move much more slowly than technological innovations, and regulations can lag years, or even decades, behind the technologies they aim to govern.

In addition to this varied set of national regulatory approaches, a variety of international and nongovernmental organizations also contribute to the process of developing standards, rules, and norms for new technologies, including the International Organization for Standardization­ and the International Telecommunication Union. These multilateral and NGO actors play an especially important role in trying to define appropriate boundaries for the use of new technologies by governments as instruments of control for the state.

At the same time that policymakers are under scrutiny both for their decisions about how to regulate technology as well as their decisions about how and when to adopt technologies like facial recognition themselves, technology firms and designers have also come under increasing criticism. Growing recognition that the design of technologies can have far-reaching social and political implications means that there is more pressure on technologists to take into consideration the consequences of their decisions early on in the design process (Vincenti 1993; Winner 1980) . The question of how technologists should incorporate these social dimensions into their design and development processes is an old one, and debate on these issues dates back to the 1970s, but it remains an urgent and often overlooked part of the puzzle because so many of the supposedly systematic mechanisms for assessing the impacts of new technologies in both the private and public sectors are primarily bureaucratic, symbolic processes rather than carrying any real weight or influence.

Technologists are often ill-equipped or unwilling to respond to the sorts of social problems that their creations have—often unwittingly—exacerbated, and instead point to governments and lawmakers to address those problems (Zuckerberg 2019) . But governments often have few incentives to engage in this area. This is because setting clear standards and rules for an ever-evolving technological landscape can be extremely challenging, because enforcement of those rules can be a significant undertaking requiring considerable expertise, and because the tech sector is a major source of jobs and revenue for many countries that may fear losing those benefits if they constrain companies too much. This indicates not just a need for clearer incentives and better policies for both private- and public-sector entities but also a need for new mechanisms whereby the technology development and design process can be influenced and assessed by people with a wider range of experiences and expertise. If we want technologies to be designed with an eye to their impacts, who is responsible for predicting, measuring, and mitigating those impacts throughout the design process? Involving policymakers in that process in a more meaningful way will also require training them to have the analytic and technical capacity to more fully engage with technologists and understand more fully the implications of their decisions.

At the same time that tech companies seem unwilling or unable to rein in their creations, many also fear they wield too much power, in some cases all but replacing governments and international organizations in their ability to make decisions that affect millions of people worldwide and control access to information, platforms, and audiences (Kilovaty 2020) . Regulators around the world have begun considering whether some of these companies have become so powerful that they violate the tenets of antitrust laws, but it can be difficult for governments to identify exactly what those violations are, especially in the context of an industry where the largest players often provide their customers with free services. And the platforms and services developed by tech companies are often wielded most powerfully and dangerously not directly by their private-sector creators and operators but instead by states themselves for widespread misinformation campaigns that serve political purposes (Nye 2018) .

Since the largest private entities in the tech sector operate in many countries, they are often better poised to implement global changes to the technological ecosystem than individual states or regulatory bodies, creating new challenges to existing governance structures and hierarchies. Just as it can be challenging to provide oversight for government use of technologies, so, too, oversight of the biggest tech companies, which have more resources, reach, and power than many nations, can prove to be a daunting task. The rise of network forms of organization and the growing gig economy have added to these challenges, making it even harder for regulators to fully address the breadth of these companies’ operations (Powell 1990) . The private-public partnerships that have emerged around energy, transportation, medical, and cyber technologies further complicate this picture, blurring the line between the public and private sectors and raising critical questions about the role of each in providing critical infrastructure, health care, and security. How can and should private tech companies operating in these different sectors be governed, and what types of influence do they exert over regulators? How feasible are different policy proposals aimed at technological innovation, and what potential unintended consequences might they have?

Conflict between countries has also spilled over significantly into the private sector in recent years, most notably in the case of tensions between the United States and China over which technologies developed in each country will be permitted by the other and which will be purchased by other customers, outside those two countries. Countries competing to develop the best technology is not a new phenomenon, but the current conflicts have major international ramifications and will influence the infrastructure that is installed and used around the world for years to come. Untangling the different factors that feed into these tussles as well as whom they benefit and whom they leave at a disadvantage is crucial for understanding how governments can most effectively foster technological innovation and invention domestically as well as the global consequences of those efforts. As much of the world is forced to choose between buying technology from the United States or from China, how should we understand the long-term impacts of those choices and the options available to people in countries without robust domestic tech industries? Does the global spread of technologies help fuel further innovation in countries with smaller tech markets, or does it reinforce the dominance of the states that are already most prominent in this sector? How can research universities maintain global collaborations and research communities in light of these national competitions, and what role does government research and development spending play in fostering innovation within its own borders and worldwide? How should intellectual property protections evolve to meet the demands of the technology industry, and how can those protections be enforced globally?

These conflicts between countries sometimes appear to challenge the feasibility of truly global technologies and networks that operate across all countries through standardized protocols and design features. Organizations like the International Organization for Standardization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and many others have tried to harmonize these policies and protocols across different countries for years, but have met with limited success when it comes to resolving the issues of greatest tension and disagreement among nations. For technology to operate in a global environment, there is a need for a much greater degree of coordination among countries and the development of common standards and norms, but governments continue to struggle to agree not just on those norms themselves but even the appropriate venue and processes for developing them. Without greater global cooperation, is it possible to maintain a global network like the internet or to promote the spread of new technologies around the world to address challenges of sustainability? What might help incentivize that cooperation moving forward, and what could new structures and process for governance of global technologies look like? Why has the tech industry’s self-regulation culture persisted? Do the same traditional drivers for public policy, such as politics of harmonization and path dependency in policy-making, still sufficiently explain policy outcomes in this space? As new technologies and their applications spread across the globe in uneven ways, how and when do they create forces of change from unexpected places?

These are some of the questions that we hope to address in the Technology and Global Change section through articles that tackle new dimensions of the global landscape of designing, developing, deploying, and assessing new technologies to address major challenges the world faces. Understanding these processes requires synthesizing knowledge from a range of different fields, including sociology, political science, economics, and history, as well as technical fields such as engineering, climate science, and computer science. A crucial part of understanding how technology has created global change and, in turn, how global changes have influenced the development of new technologies is understanding the technologies themselves in all their richness and complexity—how they work, the limits of what they can do, what they were designed to do, how they are actually used. Just as technologies themselves are becoming more complicated, so are their embeddings and relationships to the larger social, political, and legal contexts in which they exist. Scholars across all disciplines are encouraged to join us in untangling those complexities.

Josephine Wolff is an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Her book You’ll See This Message When It Is Too Late: The Legal and Economic Aftermath of Cybersecurity Breaches was published by MIT Press in 2018.

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/positive-negative-effects-technology-society-muhammad-ikram-blogger

March 12, 2023 / Reading Time: ~ 9 minutes

The Positives and Negatives of Technology Usage in my Life and Today’s Society

Introduction.

Technology plays a crucial role in today’s society. Wherever you go, there is a dependent use of technology at home, in the public, etc. Technology has had both positive and negative impacts on my life. One common positive side of the use of technology is that it makes our lives easier such as transportation, kitchen technology, getting work done, or communication. In my life, transportation technology helps me get from one place to another such as going to the store or taking a city bus to get to college. Kitchen technology helps me and my parents make food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Getting stuff done using my laptop, such as school work or any sort of technology since in today’s world, most of the things we do are mostly online. Or just communicating with family, friends, and family from afar like my relatives in Vietnam. There are also some negative sides to the use of technology. One common negative side is that we rely on it too much. When it comes to my use of technology, I depend on it a lot. Whether it’s for stress relief or getting out of a conversation, I rely on technology such as my phone and laptop. After looking at some positive and negative effects of technology usage on my life, I realize that nonmedia technology such as a car or stove is where most of the positive side of technology usage comes from because it assists us in making our life easier. Whereas for media technology, there are some benefits to it like getting work done, communicating with relatives from afar, or getting your local news to keep up with the world. But from my perspective, media technology is fifty-fifty when it comes to the positives and negatives. The negatives of media technology use came mostly from 24/7 media consumption and social media. In the article, Is Society Moving In The Right Direction With Technology Rapidly Taking Over The World? The writer Loubier talks about the positives and negatives of technology such as technology has made our life easier, but people are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to the digital world. And if we were to use technology right, such as not overusing it and not depending on it for every situation, we can do no wrong with technology (Loubier, 2021). In this essay, I will talk about the positive and negative effects of technology use in my digital life, from when COVID-19 started, to how it is today.

COVID-19 Lockdown

When the pandemic lockdown started, I’m pretty sure the only thing people would hear from the media every day is the increase in COVID cases. As a way to cope during the pandemic, there has been a rise in technology usage from “consuming news media, watching television, using social media to connect with others, utilizing lifestyle apps to shop for groceries and other consumer goods, and engaging in home workouts” (Garfin, para. 1, 2020). My usage of technology increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was when I was beginning the second semester of 10th grade. Our school was closed for the rest of the year, and we were given the option if we want to do extra classwork online to improve our grades or leave our grades how they are. The school district even took into consideration that there would be a lot of students who have personal at-home issues or struggling with technology, and there would not be any grade deduction. My grades were decent where I had a couple of B’s and a few A’s and I felt like I didn’t need to do any extra classwork. Looking back now, I should have taken advantage of that opportunity to improve my grades that were not an A since our grades could only just improve and not be deducted. During the lockdown break is when I significantly used my laptop and phone mainly for entertainment purposes and to be honest during the break I didn’t focus on anything about education. For the whole break, I was more focused on watching YouTube videos, movies, tv shows, and anime on my laptop, playing video games, and chatting with friends and family on my phone. It’s gotten so bad to the point where before the lockdown, my old laptop battery was normal and was not damaged. After constant use of my old laptop, the laptop cannot function without having the charger charging it 24/7. Figure 1, shows my old MacBook Air battery life and condition. With technology use, it’s the same with my parents and sisters where my dad would spend most of his day watching a tv show, my mom would spend most of her day on YouTube and my sisters would spend most of their day on their phone and laptop. Everything about our technology usage during the lockdown break has a negative effect on us because we became too dependent on it.

Figure 1. This is a screenshot from my MacBook Air showing the static battery life and condition.

Online School

About 6 or 7 months later, 11th grade was about to begin and that is when every school in the school district that I go to switch to online school. Before school resumed, every student was given a laptop and headphones for the online class and all the class communication was through Microsoft Teams meetings. During the first day of my online class, I did pretty well, like paying attention and not getting distracted by my phone and that goes on for a couple of months. A couple of months later in the online class environment, the majority of the time, a lot of the students, including me, were not very engaged in the conversation with the teachers. The only times the students are engaged is if we have to be engaged like getting called on to answer a question, doing a presentation, or going into breakout groups. Other than that, this made the whole meeting feel very awkward. I remember during one of the online classes, my teacher was discussing what to do on the assignment and then asking a question, the entire meeting was quiet. I was staring at my screen very awkwardly and avoided the conversation by going on my phone. Of course, I could have unmuted my microphone and answered the question, but I don’t like to unmute because for some reason I’m not comfortable with doing it, and it’s the same for many students. Most of the things around this time are mostly negative. As stated in the article Adolescent brain and the natural allure of digital media, the author Giedd says “The argument is that we did not evolve to be staring at a screen for most of our waking hours. We evolved to be interacting with each other face to face, using our senses of smell and touch and taste, not just sight and sound.” (Giedd, para. 4, 2022).

In my experience during the online class, I see it as a positive and a negative. In the previous paragraph, I talk about how the first couple of months I paid attention to class. Yeah, it kind of went downhill from there. When I said it goes downhill from there, I mean in managing my time…which I’m garbage at. Most of the time, the meetings were a bunch of lectures where the teachers would put what they instructed on a separate document that I could just catch up on later. I also easily get distracted on my phone during lecture meetings. It’s the same with some of my friends who would be distracted by playing video games or texting during class meetings. When the meeting was finished and the teachers had given us time to do our assignments, my friends and I would text each other looking clueless about what we were supposed to do for the assignment. However, at the end of the year, I was more surprised that I got better grades than when I was in 9th and 10th grade. I got straight six A’s and one B+.

Here’s where the positive side of technology comes in. During the lockdown, when it comes to doing homework and assignments, I was really motivated. In fact, I am more motivated than when I was in 9th and 10th grade. I think the reason for this motivation is because unlike the previous years where we had to do stuff on paper and pencil, the assignments that we were doing online to me it’s easier. It’s easier online because I could just submit my assignments through this app the district uses called Schoology using the laptop from home instead of having to bring out a whole supply in doing the assignment manually at home, then the next day going to school and submitting it. Another positive is that I worked out more during the pandemic. One of my classes online is a health and fitness class. It’s not like I have not exercised before the pandemic, it’s just that I was more consistent and exercised way more. Since it’s a health and fitness class, of course, either in school or online, I’m going to have to exercise either way, but during online P.E. class, I got more freedom to focus on which exercise I want to work on such as cardio. And so how does technology help me improve physically? I just watch videos on how to do a certain workout properly, just using my body to exercise without having to rely on gym equipment.

Back to in-person school

​​In 12th grade, we returned to in-person school and most of the students during online classes, right off the bat my classmates described online classes as a shitshow because of how unmotivated they were online. My classmate said they would spend their time doing something else such as going on YouTube, scrolling through TikTok, chatting with their friends in the middle of the online class, or playing video games. Most of the distraction is from social media. According to A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society , it goes through the positives and negatives of social media. Some of the negatives the author Akram and Kumar mentioned are that it reduces learning, time wastage, low grades, loss of motivation, affects health, etc (Akram et al, p.6, 2017). To me, I was quite motivated and in some areas, I could be unmotivated. I’m motivated when it comes to doing the assignments, and working on myself. But when it comes to class meetings, I’m mostly unmotivated. The same students that don’t engage in conversation during online classes are more engaged in in-person classes, including me, where we are more productive in person. But it only happens over time, whereas in the beginning, it was still awkward where we were quiet.

My technology usage in college

Now I’m in college and with my technology usage, I would say there are more positives than negatives. In this paragraph, I would be focusing more on my routine unlike the previous paragraphs because there isn’t really a story to tell now that I’m in college. In the morning I would walk to my bus stop, and the first technology that I use is my AirPods, and connecting them to my phone to listen to music. I would then use the city bus to head to college, and taking a city bus is a positive because I can get from place to place since I do not have a car. When listening to music while sitting on the city bus going to college, it feels like I’m in my own zone where I feel relaxed. However, there are some negatives when riding public transport. It takes me an hour to get to college from home, and now and then the bus would be overcrowded which I do not like. When I’m at college, during class I would use my laptop and phone to do classwork. Then to go home, I would repeat what I did when I’m heading out, but instead of just listening to music, I would play games such as FIFA Mobile , or watch a YouTube video. To me, it’s also a positive because these kinds of entertainment make the bus ride feel quicker. Figure 2 shows a screenshot of my daily average use of my iPhone. 

Figure 2. This is a screenshot from my iPhone showing my daily average screen time.

I mainly use my phone outside of the home to communicate with my family and friends, now and then watch YouTube, listen to music on the bus, and play games on it such as FIFA . When I head home, the first thing I smell every time is my parents’ cooking, which also uses kitchen technology such as a stove. This is a positive because, without these technologies, cooking would have been a lot harder and a lot of work. When I’m finished with dinner, I would head to my room and use my laptop and check if I had any assignments to do. If not, I would just watch a movie or a tv show. Figure 3 shows a screenshot of my daily screen time on my MacBook Pro. 

Figure 3. This is a screenshot from my MacBook Pro showing my daily screen time use.

I mainly use it to do schoolwork, watch YouTube videos, movies, tv shows, anime, etc. I use my laptop throughout the day, but I mostly use my laptop during the night which is negative because I’m not giving my eyes any breaks. And pretty much I would repeat my routine the next day.

Overall, technology has brought many positives such as making our life easier, transportation, faster way to cook, getting work done, and having close communication. Technology has also brought many negatives such as we become too dependent on it, easily a distraction, becoming addicted to it, affecting our physical and mental health, and losing social skills. Looking at my digital life through the usage of technology, what I could get is there are both positive and negative effects and I would say they are balanced. The positive is, most of the technology that I use makes my life easier, me commuting from home to college, cooking food, and communicating with family, friends, and family in Vietnam. And negative being I depend on it too much, it’s very distracting, sometimes a waste of time, and lacks real-life communication. Technology has affected my life and many others in both a beneficial way and a detrimental way. To keep in check with our health and livelihood and continue to gain the benefits of technology, we must not rely on technology to solve all of our problems, and sometimes we have to rely on ourselves instead because too much of anything is bad for us.

Akram, W., & Kumar, R. (2017). A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society. International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, 5(10), 351–354. https://doi.org/10.26438/ijcse/v5i10.351354 Garfin, D. R. (2020). Technology as a coping tool during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Implications and recommendations. Stress and Health, 36(4), 555–559. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2975 Giedd, J. N. (2020). Adolescent brain and the natural allure of digital media. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 22(2), 127–133. https://doi.org/10.31887/dcns.2020.22.2/jgiedd Loubier, A. (2021, June 1). Is Society Moving In The Right Direction With Technology Rapidly Taking Over The World? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrealoubier/2021/06/01/is-society-moving-in-the-right-direction-with-technology-rapidly-taking-over-the-world/?sh=f09b5407c099 .

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Published: March 12, 2023

Word Count: 2485

Reading time: ~ 9 minutes

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Impact of Technology on Society Essay (Critical Writing)

Technology advances date back to the Stone Age. Through the centuries, technology has evolved in this era of civilization and modernization. This has had advantages as it has led to today’s civilization and development. The technology considered useful but has its own setbacks. Neil Postman is a technology critic.

Technology has many evident benefits and society has unquestioningly embraced it. Postman’s intellectual target which is to illustrate how technopoly redefines culture is illustrated in his book, “Technopoly: The surrender of Culture to Technology” Therefore, this essay presents a critical analysis on the impact of technology on society through Postman’s eye.

Postman argues that uncontrolled advances in technology destroy important sources of humanity. He states that this could lead to losing morality and changes in our ideologies. Technology takes superiority over humanity because of its efficiency. The rise of control systems that manage information such as statistics are based on the fallacy that information can be scientifically measured and stored. Technology cannot be blamed because humans are the ones to be blamed in case of a mishap due to technology. This puts pressure on humanity and gives superiority to technology (Postman, 1993). Postman feels that this puts humanity in a subordinate position to technology.

He addresses the issue of information invasion in his book. Traditionally, information was limited and therefore it was easy to manage it. Information was critically classified such that what was delivered was standard for the age and academic level of a person learning. This way, tradition ensured productive development in children.

On the other hand, technopoly gives children information without limitation. Subsequently, this indiscrimination corrupts and overloads young minds. For example, children have access to information that should be rated on the internet (Postman, 1993). Technopoly has given a solution to this issue by installing software that is able to deny access to specified sites. It is therefore now upon the parents to rate what they think is fit for their children.

Postman argues that technology gives and takes away. He states that the benefits and deficits of technology are not distributed equally. He further states that the hazards that accompany technology overshadow its advantages (Postman, 1993). This is a true observation, as it is clear that every aspect of change has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, with regard to computers, he argues that they have given some members of the community benefits and have resulted in deficits for other members.

He observes that computer put more focus on the technicalities but they have little to offer. Concerning television, he says those who have achieved high paying careers consider it a blessing. According to him, the television also ends schoolteacher’s career (Postman, 1993). Rather than work against the education system, computers are actually promoting academic. A wider range of individuals can now access quality education through online services. Educative programs on televisions also help students better understand their academics (Szoka, 2010).

He argues that some societies are tool-using, some are technocracies and others technopolies. This is a relevant taxonomy as presented in society. He gives strong definitions for what he means by these classes too. In traditional culture, the invention of tools was purposely done to give solutions to specific problems in the community.

The tools invented promoted the dignity and integrity of the specific communities. They were important aspects of the cultural processes as humans were defining their way of living. In contrast, tools work against culture in the technocracy world. Here, the tools govern humanity rather than humanity governing tools (Feist, 2010). This is a threat that Postman feels should be addressed.

Technopoly leads to the disappearance of thought -worlds by making it invisible and irrelevant. It changes the meaning of terms and standards of culture to suit its standards. This keeps away technology from its basis to serve humanity. It takes a higher position such that humans are subject to it. It is supposed to be the means through which humanity gets to the end it has defined in its culture. In contrast, technology has had an upper hand in restructuring culture and therefore humanity becomes a means to realize ends set by technology (Postman, 1993). The omnipotence assumed by technology blurs humanity’s major interests. Technology takes the lead and shapes human lives as humans blindly follow. He thus defines it as totalitarian technocracy (Ibid).

His arguments in his book, particularly in chapter two are true. Their disadvantages depend on one’s standpoint. A society that has the tool-using culture only is primitive and less developed while the society with the technopoly culture it is civilized and developed. Given time, the tool-using one will advance to the technopoly one naturally.

Change is a constant aspect of life and embracing it is a necessity. It is also true that technopoly has made life so much easier and comfortable than it was initially. It has shifted the focus from manual labor to technical labor. This has seen many people ending up jobless. It has also provided easy means of acquiring the technical skills required to fit into technology. Thus, striking a balance between these cultures is all it takes and this can be done at the individual level. Granted, striking a balance is not as easy as there is a lot of pressure from technology (Postman, 1993).

To support this, he further argues that in societies that are technocracies, technology and tradition co-exist in an uneasy tension. This is because the two oppose each other with the technological one being the stronger. The traditional one is still there though and cannot be ignored. Therefore, practices from both cultures are practiced but these may be in conflict with each other. This is the case in most aspects but some traditional cultures may not be in conflict with technology (Postman, 2010).

For example, technological ways of farming are in constant conflict with the traditional ways of farming. Farmers who use traditional farming methods suffer losses because of the availability of advanced farming methods. Therefore, to be safe farmers have to embrace the traditional methods at the expense of the traditional ones.

Technology has led to the disintegration of cultural beliefs paving the way to a new way of life. It makes society find fulfillment and authority in the implementation of technology (Ibid).

Technopoly is viewed as the means by which dilemmas may be solved. Those who believe in technopoly believe that information gives freedom, creativity, and peace of mind. Postman believes that information does the opposite (Postman, 1993).

This is a true observation. On the other hand, technology embraces social sites that help people break communication barriers. This allows people to communicate across continents, defying race, ethnicity and language differences. This is a means of getting exposed to other cultures and raising a culturally diversified generation. Information obtained online also enlightens on the different cultures helping people appreciate each other (Szoka, 2010).

He further says that information needs to be controlled. When there is too much information to sustain any theory, information becomes essentially meaningless. Technopoly increases the availability of information. Too much information is hard to be controlled due to the load put on the control measures. This call for more control machines but need more information as they are more technical.

The overflow of information stresses brains receiving them and threatens psychological peace and social purpose. The information glut leads to the breakdown of a coherent cultural narrative, he argues, for without a meaningful context, information is not only useless but also potentially dangerous. He cites the old saying that, to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail, and therefore, “to a man with a computer, everything looks like data” (Postman, 1993).

The importance given to information and technology’s control over information is the major reason why technopoly has thrived over traditional culture. Technology has weaved a distinct web for passing information. This is in the form of social media like phones, telegrams, and internet and satellite communication. This means that information has become a vital part of humanity.

Technopoly gives technology the power to control the dispersion of information and hence it is able to redefine culture. This has led to confusion of terms like knowledge and information, or reason and familiarity (Postman, 1993). The availability of information may be overwhelming, but it has led to the expansion of people’s way of thinking hence curbing ignorance. Thus, Postman is not justified in crucifying technology on this score.

Another major setback of technology is its effect on the education system. He also addresses the redefinition of information and knowledge. His arguments are well thought and they have strong support. It calls upon the reader to reflect and think critically. This is a habit he believes technology has made irrelevant. He thus calls upon the reader to reconsider the old ways and think of ways technology has helped make the world better.

He agrees with the many benefits of technology and helps expose its loopholes too (Feist, 2010). The education system has actually not suffered as the techno pessimists may want us to believe. Rather it has undergone a major redefinition to give opportunities to both young and old. Quality education is now readily available, thanks to technology (Szoka, 2010).

The defense given by techno-optimists lies in decentralizing, globalizing, harmonizing and empowering. Technopoly encourages the participation of both the experts and the non-experts for example in writing. It encourages diversity of thought and expression as information can be shared globally. It also allows self-actualization and empowerment by providing information.

Through the Internet, masses are able to be educated therefore increasing literacy. Information abundance creates new opportunities for learning. It offers real choices and genuine voices. Connection through social sites helps diversify culture due to globalization. It also promotes international integrity as peace initiatives can be run faster through technology. Granted, technology offers efficiency and quality and that within a short time (Szoka, 2010).

Postman is, therefore, a strong author who handles his writing expertly and conveys his arguments in a way that is understandable to the reader. The simple traditional methods offer peace and tranquility of mind. They offer freedom and strong morals and they were efficient enough. Modernization brings with it slavery of mind and loses morals. On the other hand, development owes its origin to technology. The simple cultural methods are the ones that have advanced this far. Technology advances cannot be regulated as they arise out of necessity. The benefits of technology far outdo its deficits, though, and as Szoka (2010) says, change is inevitable.

Feist, R. Beauvais, C. & Shukla, R. (2010). Technology and the Changing Face of Humanity. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.

Postman, N. (1993). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Vintage Books Publishers.

Szoka, B. Marcus, A. (2010). The Next Digital Decade. New York: TechFreedom Publishers.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, May 7). Impact of Technology on Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impact-of-technology-on-society/

"Impact of Technology on Society." IvyPanda , 7 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/impact-of-technology-on-society/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Impact of Technology on Society'. 7 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Impact of Technology on Society." May 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impact-of-technology-on-society/.

1. IvyPanda . "Impact of Technology on Society." May 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impact-of-technology-on-society/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Impact of Technology on Society." May 7, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impact-of-technology-on-society/.

• The Analysis of Postman’s Technopoly: Where the Real Danger Lurks
• Postman's Concept of Technology
• Technological Development of Civilizations
• "Virtual Students, Digital Classroom" by Neil Postman
• Postman’s Park in London
• "Future Shlock" by Neil Postman
• The Summary of Two Chapters From Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
• Comparison: "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by N.Postman and "The Panopticon Writings" by J.Bentham
• Globalization in Bentham’s Panopticon and Postman’s "Amusing Ourselves to Death"
• The Future of Society in "Brave New World" by Huxley and "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Postman
• Parent Interview and Infant Observation
• Immigrants in Los Angeles
• Early Intervention Strategies
• "A New View of Society" by Robert Owen
• Arguments for Animal Rights

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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• Publics in Emerging Economies Worry Social Media Sow Division, Even as They Offer New Chances for Political Engagement
• 3. Publics think technology impacts the political environment in both positive and negative ways

Table of Contents

• 1. Users say they regularly encounter false and misleading content on social media – but also new ideas
• 2. More people are comfortable discussing politics in person than on their phones or via social media
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology
• Appendix A: About the focus groups
• Appendix B: Technology-related surveys regularly find that people see connectivity bringing positives and negatives
• Appendix C: Detailed tables

Beyond their views of the personal impact of various technologies, publics in these countries are divided over how the internet in general has impacted politics in their societies. An 11-country median of 44% say the increasing use of the internet has had a good impact on politics, but 28% feel that impact has been largely bad – and this balance of opinion is most negative in Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon.

Adults in these countries also feel access to technology has had a variety of both positive and negative impacts on their fellow citizens. On the positive side of the ledger, a median of 78% say access to the internet, mobile phones and social media has made people more informed about current events. And when asked about the impact of social media on the broader political process, majorities in nine of these 11 countries say they have increased the ability for ordinary citizens to take part in the political process.

At the same time, an 11-country median of 72% say these technologies have made people easier to manipulate with rumors and false information. And majorities in eight countries say social media have increased the risk that citizens might be manipulated by domestic politicians.

Mixed attitudes about the internet’s overall impact on politics

Adults in these countries express mixed views about the overall influence of the internet on politics. In most countries , larger shares say the internet has had a good impact on politics than say the same about issues such as children or morality. But notably smaller shares say the internet has had a good impact on politics than say this about its effect on issues such as education, the economy or local culture (for more, see the first report in this series).

Adults in these countries also make little distinction between the impact of the internet and mobile phones when it comes to politics. Nearly identical shares say the internet and mobile phones have had a good, bad or negligible impact on politics.

Across these 11 countries, public opinion about the internet’s impact on politics is most negative in Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia. In Lebanon, nearly twice as many say the internet has had a bad (42%) rather than good (23%) influence on politics. And in Jordan and Tunisia, the shares saying the internet’s impact on politics has been good are comparable to the shares saying it has been bad.

In addition to having a comparably negative balance of sentiment relative to the other countries in this survey, publics in these three countries have also turned somewhat less upbeat in recent years in their assessments of the internet’s impact on politics. From 2014 to 2018, the share of adults in these countries saying the internet has had a good influence on politics has declined by 11 percentage points in Jordan, 9 points in Lebanon and 6 points in Tunisia. By contrast, sentiment in the other seven countries for which trends are available either grew more positive or stayed largely the same over that time. This positive shift has been most pronounced in Mexico, South Africa and Venezuela.

Many think technology has made people better informed – but also easier to manipulate

When asked about the impact of mobile phones, the internet and social media on various political behaviors and attitudes, people in these nations tend to express seemingly dual views of how technology has brought “more” to society: that it has made people more informed, yet more manipulatable; more divided, yet sometimes more accepting of others.

At one level, publics in these countries believe that technology simultaneously makes people more informed and more gullible. Majorities in every country – and an 11-country median of 78% – say access to technology has made people more informed about current events. At the same time, majorities in every country except for Vietnam – and an 11-country median of 72% – say technology has made it easier to manipulate people with false information and rumors.

We become numb to the news, like the presidential campaigns in Mexico. A term ago, we were struggling to get more political awareness, and now everything is made a meme and laughed at. It defeats the purpose of the internet. MAN, 28, MEXICO

The survey highlights similar tensions over whether these technologies make people more divided or more accepting of others. A median of 58% say access to mobile phones, the internet and social media has made people more divided in their political opinions. At the same time, a median of 52% say these technologies have made people more accepting of those who have different views than they do. And a median of 55% say they have generally made people more willing to engage in political debates.

These positive and negative views of technology’s impact on political attitudes are often related. In 10 of the 11 countries surveyed, those who believe technology has made people more informed are more likely than others to say technology has also made people easier to manipulate.

Similarly, in most countries those who say technology has made people more accepting of diverse viewpoints are simultaneously more likely to say it has made people more divided in their political opinions.

Through our mobile phones, since there is that social media, it has really led to the spread of hatred and tribalism amongst ourselves. MAN, 38, KENYA

These same costs and benefits are visible when it comes to technology’s impact on political news and discussion. For instance, people in these countries overwhelmingly feel mobile phones have improved people’s ability to obtain news. Yet an 11-country median of 64% say people should be very concerned about exposure to false information when using their mobile devices.

People in some countries stand out for their views on the influence of technology on politics

Especially large shares of Jordanians feel technology has made people more receptive to most of the political impacts measured in the survey, and this is especially true of the notion that technology makes people more informed but also easier to manipulate. Around nine-in-ten Jordanians say access to mobile phones, the internet and social media has made people more informed about current events, but a similar share says this access makes them more vulnerable to being manipulated with rumors and false information. And roughly three-quarters of Jordanians say technology has made people more divided in their political opinions, but also more willing to engage in political debates.

By contrast, Vietnamese adults are relatively likely to say access to these technologies hasn’t changed much compared with those in the other countries surveyed. One-third or more Vietnamese say these technologies haven’t had much impact on people’s willingness to engage in political debates (33%), how divided they are in their political opinions (35%) or how accepting they are of those with different views (35%), while 26% say they haven’t had much impact on how easy people are to manipulate. In each instance, these represent the largest shares among the 11 countries surveyed.

Meanwhile, Mexicans stand out for their assessment of the impact of technologies on people’s tolerance of different viewpoints. Some 35% of Mexicans say technology has made people more accepting of people who have different views than they do, but a nearly identical share (36%) says technology has had a negative impact in this regard. Younger Mexicans are especially likely to say technologies have made people less tolerant to people who hold different views: 41% hold this view, compared with 30% of Mexicans ages 50 and older.

Social media users, those affiliated with a political party and the more educated are more likely to see both positive and negative political impacts of digital technologies

Certain groups are especially likely to cite both the positive and negative impacts of technology on political engagement.

For example, social media users are more likely than non-users to say technology has made people more informed about current events in all 11 countries surveyed; more accepting of people with different views in eight countries; and more willing to engage in political debates in nine countries. 10 At the same time, in nine countries a larger share of users say technology is making people more divided in their political opinions – and in 10 countries a larger share of social media users say technology is making people easier to mislead with misinformation (see Appendix C for detailed tables).

These attitudes also vary by education level. 11 Across all 11 countries, adults with a secondary education or higher are more likely to say technology has made people more informed about current events relative to those who do not have a secondary education. And in nine countries, adults with higher levels of educational attainment are more inclined to say technology has made people more subject to false information and rumors.

Meanwhile, adults with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to say technology has contributed to both political divisions and tolerance of opposing viewpoints in seven of these countries (Colombia, India, Kenya, Lebanon, the Philippines, Tunisia and Vietnam).

In eight of the nine countries for which partisan information is available, those who have a partisan affiliation are somewhat more likely than those who don’t identify with any particular party to say technology has made people more willing to engage in political debate. 12 And in five of those countries, those with a partisan affiliation are more likely to say access to technology has made people more divided in their political opinions. But in most countries, similar shares of the affiliated and unaffiliated say technology has made people more informed, more accepting of those with different viewpoints and more susceptible to misinformation. 13

Lastly, social media users’ assessments of the impact of technology on political attitudes are somewhat related to whether they view social media as an important news source. In seven out of the 11 countries, those who say social media are a very important news source for them to get political news and information are more likely than users who do not think social media are as important to say technology has made people more informed about news and current events.

Social media seen to confer benefits – but also risks – on the overall political process

When asked about different impacts social media have had on their country’s political process, publics in these countries are more likely than not to say social media offer new avenues for political engagement. A median of 57% – and majorities in every country except for Vietnam and India – say social media have increased the ability for ordinary people in their country to have a meaningful voice in the political process. And a median of 53% say these platforms have increased the ability of nongovernmental organizations to promote their causes.

But these perceived benefits from social media are matched with perceived costs. An 11-country median of 65% say social media have increased the risk that people in their country might be manipulated by domestic politicians. And when asked whether these platforms might facilitate foreign interference in their country’s elections, a median of 55% say these platforms have indeed increased this risk – although a median of 27% feel they have not had much effect either way.

Now it is much easier for our countrymen to know about the plans of our government for our OFW [Overseas Filipino Workers]. WOMAN, 48, PHILIPPINES

Among those who use social media, there are only minimal differences between the views of younger (ages 18 to 29) and older adults (those ages 50+) on these questions. However, there are some differences based on how extensively people rely on these platforms for information. In most countries, those who say social media are a very important news source are more likely to say these platforms have increased ordinary people’s ability to have a meaningful voice in politics, and that they have helped nongovernmental groups to promote their causes. At the same time, in seven countries this group is also more likely to say these platforms have increased the risk of people being manipulated by domestic politicians, compared with users who do not see social media as a very important source of information.

In several countries, sizable shares say they do not know how these platforms have impacted the broader political system

These questions were asked of all adults – regardless of whether they themselves use social media platforms or not. And in several of these countries, sizable shares of those who do not use any social media platforms are unable to offer an opinion on how social media have impacted these aspects of the political process. This is especially true in Jordan, Lebanon, India and Vietnam. Among people in these countries who do not use social media, as many as 21% of Vietnamese, 34% of Jordanians, 41% of Lebanese and 51% of Indians either do not know the answer to these individual questions or refused to offer a guess.

Similarly, demographic groups who use social media at low rates (such as older adults or those with lower levels of education) are often more likely to say they do not know how social media have impacted these elements of the political process.

• In India, Jordan, Lebanon and South Africa, non-internet users are less likely to offer a response. ↩
• Social media platform and messaging app users include those who say they use one or more of the seven specific online platforms asked about on the survey: Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber, Instagram, Snapchat and Tinder. Overall, a median of 64% use at least one of these platforms across these 11 countries. ↩
• For the purpose of comparing education groups across countries, we standardize education levels based on the United Nations’ International Standard Classification of Education. In all nations surveyed, the lower education category is below secondary education and the higher category is secondary or above. ↩
• This analysis excludes Vietnam, which has a single-party system, and Jordan, where fewer than 100 people said they had a partisan identification. ↩
• In some countries, non-social media users, those with lower levels of education or those who have no partisan affiliation are less likely to offer a response. ↩

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Information Technology — The Impact of Modern Technology on Society

The Impact of Modern Technology on Society

• Categories: Information Technology

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Published: Feb 12, 2024

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Introduction, works cited.

• Modern technologies have provided opportunities for easy access to relevant information anytime and anywhere. High-speed internet and platforms like Wikipedia and YouTube offer vast amounts of data for research and entertainment purposes. Smart gadgets such as iPads, iPhones, and iWatches allow users to access the internet and information from anywhere in the world. The entertainment industry has also been transformed by modern technology, with advancements in video games, music systems, and smart TVs. Learning has become more convenient and fun through the use of tablets in classrooms, allowing students to share visual lessons and examples. Additionally, modern technology has improved the healthcare system, reducing mistakes in surgical rooms and providing health apps for monitoring. Enterprises have also benefited from technology, increasing production turnover and product quality. Housing conditions have improved with automated systems and integrated security.
• The active use of technology has led to social isolation, with people spending more time playing video games and using social networks, neglecting real-life interactions. Technology has replaced traditional forms of interaction, potentially leading to loneliness. Additionally, the automation of many jobs by robots has resulted in unemployment for humans. The reliance on tools like calculators and spell checkers has reduced creativity and intelligence. The progress of technology has also increased the risk of internet fraud and hacking. Modern technology is often associated with the outbreak of wars and the production of modern military weapons, causing harm to both humans and the environment.
• Aldrich, Tim. About Time: Speed, Society, People and the Environment. Routledge, 2017.
• Ott, Kate. Christian Ethics for a Digital Society. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2018.
• Posamentier, Alfred, and Christian Spreitzer. The Mathematics of Everyday Life. Prometheus, 2018.
• Schuilenburg, Marc, and Rik Peeters. The Algorithmic Society (Routledge Studies in Crime, Security and Justice). Routledge, 2020.

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The Positive and Negative Effects of Technology on Your Life

As a society, we've come a long way with the help of technology. But is it all rainbows and sunshine? Or does technology have its downsides?

Technology is around us everywhere, from simple devices like our smartphones, laptop, and TV to background tech that we don't even notice. It isn't going anywhere anytime soon, meaning we have to get accustomed to it. Once we get the hang of using tech the right way, it can improve our lives.

On the other hand, tech can also make our lives harder. Whether tech has a positive or negative effect on our lives, it all depends on how we use it. So, let's look at some of the positive and negative aspects of technology in our lives, shall we?

Positives of Technology in Our Lives

Technology has, without a doubt, made all our lives easier over the past two decades. From connecting with people across the globe from the comfort of your home to running a full-fledged business without a physical space, technology has impacted our lives positively in several ways. So, read on below:

1. Technology Boosts Business

Many new tech advancements and innovations are made by and for businesses. Why? Because companies are always looking to upgrade their products and services for profit.

New technology continues to come out faster than we can keep up with. The purpose is to boost business and make the daily management of enterprises more systematic, structured, and successful.

Tech has boosted businesses by improving the hiring process, error-free collection and analysis of business data, and better communication with clients and partners.

Additionally, tech has also changed the way we work remotely for the better. It is now commonplace for people to work from home. However, certain tech, like the cloud, has made it easier than ever to work whether you're at the office or not.

What's more, tech has made it effortless to communicate remotely too. Businesses now typically use tools like Slack and Zoom on a regular basis.

2. Technology Makes Shopping Online Possible

Advancements in tech have made it easier for more people to access the internet, resulting in online shopping being more popular now than ever.

Currently, most people prefer to shop online without leaving the house because of its sheer convenience. Instead of wasting hours in the shopping mall, tech makes shopping simple.

A few of the benefits of online shopping include cheaper products, saved time, fuel, and energy, easier-to-find items, a wider variety online, and no added pressure.

Amazon is a great website to do basically all of your online shopping. It's one of the most popular online shopping platforms because you can practically find everything you're looking for, from groceries to clothing.

Generous discounts, cheap shipping, and a massive selection of products are just some of the other excellent benefits of shopping online using Amazon. What's more, there is an Amazon Shopping mobile app that you can download and use for free. If Amazon isn't available to you there are plenty of alternatives to Amazon for your online shopping .

Download: Amazon Shopping for iOS | Android

3. Technology Has Advanced Education

One of the most downplayed areas of technology that has dramatically improved over the past few years is education. Technology has definitely been beneficial for those in the business world, but it has impacted education in a big way.

A few examples include the availability of online courses, accessibility of web seminars, and unlimited online resources for research. Before tech, you'd have to physically go to class, attend a meeting or go to the library to do research.

Now, education is easier for everyone, no matter where you live. Online classes have made it possible for all students to enroll without leaving their homes.

Today, you can find several great sites for free college courses online , such as Udemy—a fantastic website that offers thousands of free and paid-for courses to choose from. Whether you want to create virtual reality games or become a yoga instructor, Udemy has a course that's perfect for you.

In terms of technology, Udemy also offers a wide variety of great tech-related online courses. The categories available range from IT hardware and software to operating systems and network and security. So tech can help you master your chosen path and possibly broaden your career opportunities.

4. Technology Makes Everyday Life Better

Most technology these days is created to improve businesses and generate profit. However, tech can also make our daily lives so much better.

Tech has made an immensely positive impact on the daily lives of everyday people. Some positive examples include improvements in the transportation system.

The Bullet Train is an amazing piece of tech that can travel six times faster than a regular train. Think about the introduction of self-driving cars, too: they were unheard of a few years ago, and now they're a reality.

A fair amount of people drive Teslas, and they are well-known for having state-of-the-art self-driving capabilities. Some other companies that support autonomous driving capabilities besides Tesla are Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

Besides transportation, technology has also had a positive influence on household items. For example, smart homes are now commonplace. Smart hubs allow households to connect their devices and appliances, making life a lot easier.

Negatives of Technology in Our Lives

As much as we appreciate technology for the convenience it brought to our lives, several aspects of it have impacted our society negatively in more ways than one.

1. Technology Causes Health Problems

As technology advances, we are connected now more than ever, and it has become a huge part of our lives. That's why it's possible for technology to impact our physical health negatively.

These physical health problems can be severe. Nevertheless, you can avoid most of them by creating healthy tech habits instead of bad ones.

Apart from creating unhealthy sleeping patterns, electronic devices can cause digital eye strain, poor posture, and increased inactivity, leading to health problems like obesity.

Taking regular breaks from these devices can help you avoid these health problems. You can find a range of apps that remind you to take frequent breaks.

One popular app to use is called Focus Keeper. This app will help you reduce your digital eye strain, take regular breaks, and prevent tech burnout.

Using the Focus Keeper app is easy. All you have to do is pick the time you want to focus on something and hit the play button to start the session. When the session is over there is a quick break and then the next session begins.

In addition, you can customize the settings under Options to change the sessions per round, daily focus goal, and timer sounds.

Download: Focus Keeper for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Technology Creates Job Insecurity

Job loss and downsizing are two significant adverse effects of technology. Because of advances in the tech field such as AI integration, automating and accomplishing tasks have become easy.

In this day and age, most companies need to stay up to date with the latest technology, but in the process, low-skilled employees, like factory workers and cashiers, will be replaced.

Machines can now carry out tasks that only humans could do so far, which creates a massive shortage of jobs. The bottom line is that people aren't necessarily needed for work tasks anymore because of how efficient tech has become.

3. Tech Products Lack Longevity

Technology grows incredibly quickly, so the digital devices and gadgets that we use have a short lifespan and become outdated in a matter of months.

Since these devices are so important in our daily lives, we need to maintain and upgrade them regularly. Besides maintenance and upgrades, these pieces of tech may just become outdated and pushed aside by newer, more advanced versions.

Tech products lack longevity, so they can be costly and lead to unnecessary e-waste. Instead of throwing your older devices away or tossing them in the cupboard, use a website like Decluttr . This site makes it easy to buy and sell your used tech online.

You can sell your old tech on the Decluttr website, whether you want to get rid of your outdated phone, wearable, or console.

When you've found the correct category and product, tap Sell Now and the website gives you an instant price based on its carrier and condition. Moreover, Decluttr is also available as a free iOS or Android app to help you declutter your life .

4. Technology Spawns Misinformation and Fake News

The spread of misinformation and fake news online is nothing new. In fact, it has been going on for many years. However, with all the developments that happen so frequently in technology, it has become harder to define what's true and what's not.

Since so many people cannot tell what information is factual and what isn't, it creates a lot of skepticism and misunderstanding about important topics. This can be especially harmful when it comes to political issues and trusting the media.

One example of how tech advancements are negatively affecting us is the use of deepfakes. Several negative deepfake incidents have surfaced, and it's getting harder and harder to spot them.

These incidents can warn us about the possible risk of tech in the future. If you're finding it difficult to spot fake news and misinformation , an online platform like Credder is a great tool to use.

Credder will help you avoid fake news and misinformation because it only follows news and information provided by trustworthy sources.

Technology Is a Boon and Bane to Society

Overall, tech is amazing, and it has changed the world for the better, from improving our daily lives to building better businesses. The majority of the adverse effects of technology stem from its misuse.

The way we choose to utilize tech can help or harm ourselves and others. Instead of blaming the tool, we need to use technology in a healthy, more disciplined way. By doing this, technology can continue to benefit our lives.

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Positive & Negative Impact of Technology on Society

Do you have an idea for your next venture?

17 June 2021 (updated: 26 November 2021) by  Patrycja Paterska Patrycja Paterska

Tech is equally capable of making lives easier and harder. Just like everything else in this world, it pretty much depends on how we use it.

According to Edelman's Trust Barometer 2020 , trust in tech dropped by 6 points globally (to 68 on a scale of 100). In the US, it hit an all-time low of 57 out of 100. It’s a good time to go back and review what tech and the tech industry are doing well and what's to improve. Is technology good or bad for us? 

Positive impact of technology on society

The development and adoption of technology have helped societies raise productivity, inclusivity of services and improve overall well-being. Where tech advancements have helped the most?

Healthcare & wellness advancements

Tech possesses an enormous potential to improve health and healthcare systems as we know them. From AI-powered clinical drug trials through enabling preventative patients’ monitoring up to wellness solutions like wearables. We have seen tech minding the gap in healthcare in the pandemic. Telemedicine apps are the first step to making healthcare more equitable and accessible for all, no matter their socioeconomic status.

Wide tech adoption by both patients and healthcare professionals has immense potential to improve public health entities’ efficiency. Tech advancements in preventative health (like wearables) can diminish overall healthcare expenditures and allow to monitor patients’ status and detect abnormalities sooner, hence react sooner. Complex healthcare systems fueled with AI analytics are able to better distribute care and treatment. Virtual Reality Therapy is being tested on patients with severe trauma as going back and facing your fears once again and surviving proved to be the biggest therapy leap for many.

Startups and healthcare tech companies move significantly faster than traditional companies, with fewer regulatory obstacles. A good example of this would be xCures’ Beat-19 study, which went live in the first month after the pandemic hit the US.

xCures, an AI-fueled company matching cancer patients and their oncologists with optimal investigational or approved therapies, utilized their algorithm to gather data about Covid-19 spread, including sex, race, one’s underlying conditions. Now it is being used for scientific research purposes.

• You can read more on xCures' project in our Digital Health Trends 2021 Report . 

Education (EdTech)

We already have many learning platforms aggregating courses for different age groups, all from different fields and industries. They usually contain videos, interactive boards or games for practice. This alone makes education much more accessible and scalable than ever before.

But tech influence on education does not end on virtual learning. Thanks to the use of virtual reality, Artificial Intelligence, neuroscience, and learning sciences tech makes learning a more immersive and holistic experience in class. Startups like Immerse use VR to help students learn English by communicating and practising their English skills through a range of topics and themes with a VR headset.

Artificial intelligence can help students with disabilities determine the best way for them to learn efficiently and with tangible progress. Automation and systemization can solve the ultimate pain point for teachers across the globe: administrative tasks, which take a lot of their time.

Environment protection & smart cities

If you ask someone how tech influences the environment, they are likely to say “very badly”. Even though it used to be true in the past, the ultimate awareness of the necessity to protect the environment has been growing over the last decade, and tech has been one of the quickest industries to jump on the train.

Environmental startups (also called “green startups”) are building sustainable solutions to utilize materials that are difficult to recycle and reduce waste, purify water, and monitor changes in the environment to ensure a more sustainable future.

A Nigerian startup, Brickify recycles plastic waste into bricks that are resistant to water, fire, and heat and can be used for both: road construction and low-cost housing.

GOT BAG from Germany is the first company to make a backpack out of ocean plastic. They work with 1,5000 fishermen in Asia to collect plastic from the ocean. 

Another startup from Germany, KRAFTBLOCK designed a storage-based thermal energy system, able to operate up to 1,300-degree Celsius. 85% of the system is made from recycled materials, so they have a lower carbon footprint than the competition.

Just after months of major wildfires in Australia, Dryad Networks launched their product: a wireless environmental sensor network to detect wildfires about 60 minutes before they actually break out. It is based on the leading open-standard for long-range radio IoT networks. They recently enhanced their product and provide growth & health monitoring solutions for public and private forests. Some of the metrics that can be measured are humidity, drought, air quality, CO2 levels, O2 concentration in water etc.

The concept of smart cities is also closely related to environmental protection. Many cities around the globe are using tech solutions to implement measures to reduce waste and pollution, and optimize energy usage. Electric cars are favoured in the city centres; waste distribution regulations also rely on the Internet of Things to optimize processes. IoT is able to reduce the frequency of bin collections and minimizes overall waste collection costs, lowering carbon emissions in cities.

Equal opportunities

The universal value behind technology is bringing equality to products and services and minimizing socioeconomic gaps among societies and people. As described above, tech makes health and education available to more people, making it easier  to learn and get care, no matter their background.

In a work setting, tech can de-bias recruitment, unveiling pay gaps, and standardizing pay systems. Tech helps to detect all kinds of discrimination: gender gap, exclusion of minorities' etc. Artificial Intelligence models are learning (and getting better at it) how to detect hate speech in all forms and sizes. For disabled people, implementing tech solutions makes physical spaces more accessible for them.

Negative impact of technology on society

The negative impact of tech on society involves mass-made products, with most often blamed: social media. A multitude of research has been made on the topic where social media is listed as a number one place with misinformation, hate speech, and harassment on the one hand, and a place leaving people isolated and depressed on the other.

Fake news & misinformation

Fake news and misinformation have been with us for quite some time, but with the tech advancements moving rapidly, people find it hard to keep up with what’s true and what’s not.

61% of the Edelman Barometer 2020 admitted that the pace of change in tech is too fast. 57% of them think digital media platforms they use are contaminated with untrustworthy information. And after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, 76% of people worry that fake news is being used as a weapon to polarize and radicalize. This has been reinforced by the pandemic which resulted in a fake news boom, adding to the confusion and insecurity among the global population .

Deepfakes are an example of quite a recent threat and a big pain for all social media platforms. Numerous deepfake incidents have already happened. A recent one was with the Dutch parliament’s foreign affairs committee, which was fooled into holding a video call with a deepfake impersonating a Russian opposition leader. No real damage was done that time. However, it was a quick lesson illustrating a potential threat for the future.

In order to combat Deepfake videos, back in 2019, Facebook launched a Deepfake Detection Challenge to develop autonomous algorithmic detection systems.

Social media platforms in general are struggling with content moderation. At the beginning of 2021, Twitter launched a pilot “Birdwatch” programme, aiming to build a community to help fight misinformation and fake news.

Social media’s impact on mental health

Social media relies on instant gratification. All apps’ notifications are there to lure a person back into the app and scroll. According to neuroscientists at Freie University in Berlin , social media notifications (especially likes, follows etc) activate our brains’ reward system.

Numerous studies showed that social media exposure might lead to a prolonged feeling of loneliness and detachment. The popularly used phrase, FOMO (fear of missing out), is linked directly to intensive social media use. It refers to a situation when a person is flooded with content of friends, colleagues, or even influencers doing exciting things while their life or activities seem mundane and somewhat worse. It is especially harmful at a young age, as even though people are aware that the content they see is just a set of highlights of someone’s life, it leaves them feeling lonely and lacking on a subconscious level .

Connected to FOMO and social media anxiety is declining self-esteem. A lot of research has been done on the subject, but the conclusions are still very much inconclusive.

A team of researchers from Ryerson University Toronto analyzed cumulative results from 121 studies to see if they could reach a consensus. They found a small yet significant negative relationship between social media use and one’s self-esteem, suggesting that the higher level of social media use, the lower your self-esteem. Other findings were that people using social networking sites might be doing so at the expense of their in-person relationships. People with low self-esteem were naturally more drawn to social media as it helped them avoid awkward real-life experiences.

More or less tech - What is the future?

Technology ultimately transformed the world as we know it, supporting many areas’ faster development and bringing more equality and opportunity no matter one’s personal socioeconomic background.

Most of the harm done is due to tech misuse. The social media example described above confirms that we need more empathy and responsibility for users while creating tech products. It’s time to start the conversation about how better tech can actually protect us from distraction, reinforce meaningful interactions, and not promote addictive behaviour influencing the brain’s subconscious.

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Essay on Effects Of Technology On Society

Students are often asked to write an essay on Effects Of Technology On Society in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Effects Of Technology On Society

Introduction.

Technology has changed our lives in many ways. It’s like a tool, helping us do things easier and faster. It affects how we work, learn, and connect with others. This essay will talk about how technology impacts our society.

Technology and Communication

Technology has made communication simpler. Before, people used to send letters that took days to reach. Now, with emails and messaging apps, we can talk instantly. This has made our world feel smaller and more connected.

Technology and Education

Technology has also changed how we learn. With online classes and digital books, students can learn from anywhere. This makes education more accessible to everyone, no matter where they live.

Technology and Health

In health care, technology has brought many improvements. Doctors can now use machines to detect diseases early. This means they can treat patients faster and save more lives.

Technology and Environment

Technology can also impact our environment. Some technologies, like renewable energy, help protect our planet. But others, like factories and cars, can cause pollution. It’s important to use technology responsibly.

In conclusion, technology has both good and bad effects on society. It brings many benefits, like better communication and education. But it can also cause problems, like pollution. We need to use technology wisely to make the most of its benefits.

250 Words Essay on Effects Of Technology On Society

Technology has become an essential part of our society. It has changed the way we live, work, and interact with each other. This essay will discuss the effects of technology on society.

Communication

One of the most noticeable changes is in the way we communicate. Before, we used to send letters or make phone calls. Now, we use emails, social media, and video calls. This has made it easier to stay in touch with people around the world.

Technology has also changed education. Students can now learn from home using online classes. They can access a lot of information on the internet. This has made learning more flexible and accessible.

In the workplace, technology has increased productivity. Computers, software, and the internet have made work faster and more efficient. They have also created new jobs in the tech industry.

Entertainment

Our entertainment has also been affected. We now stream movies and music online. We play video games on consoles and computers. This has made entertainment more varied and accessible.

In conclusion, technology has greatly affected society. It has changed the way we communicate, learn, work, and entertain ourselves. While it has brought many benefits, it is important to use it responsibly. We must make sure it does not lead to problems like online bullying or addiction.

500 Words Essay on Effects Of Technology On Society

Technology has become a vital part of our daily lives. It is hard to imagine a day without using some form of technology. From smartphones to computers, technology is everywhere. It has changed the way we live, work, and play. This essay will explore the effects of technology on society.

Improvement in Communication

One of the main ways that technology has affected society is in the area of communication. In the past, people had to write letters or travel long distances to communicate. Now, with the help of technology, we can talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Emails, social media, and video calls have made it easy to stay in touch with friends and family. This has made the world feel like a smaller place.

Changes in Education

Technology has also changed the way we learn. Now, students can learn from anywhere using online classes. They can access a lot of information on the internet. This has made learning more flexible and accessible. It also helps students to learn at their own pace.

Impact on Health

Technology has had a big impact on health care. Doctors can now use advanced machines to diagnose and treat diseases. This has improved the quality of health care and saved many lives. On the other hand, too much use of technology can lead to health problems like eye strain and lack of physical activity.

Influence on Business

In the world of business, technology has brought about many changes. Businesses can now reach customers all over the world through the internet. They can also use technology to improve their products and services. But, this also means that businesses need to keep up with the latest technology to stay competitive.

Effect on Environment

Technology has both positive and negative effects on the environment. On one hand, technology can help to reduce waste and save energy. On the other hand, making and using technology can cause pollution and use up natural resources.

In conclusion, technology has a big impact on society. It has changed the way we communicate, learn, work, and live. It has many benefits, but it also has some drawbacks. It is important to use technology wisely to make the most of its benefits and reduce its negative effects. As we move forward, we need to think about how we can use technology to make our lives better and to help our society grow.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Effects Of Technology On Human Interaction
• Essay on Effects Of Social Media On Students
• Essay on Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health

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April 27, 2024

Breaking News, U.S. and World News

Exploring the Positive Impact of Technology on Society

In this rapidly evolving world, technology has become an inseparable part of our daily lives, shaping the way we live, work, and communicate. The positive impact of technology on society has been undeniable, revolutionizing various aspects of human existence. From enhancing communication to transforming industries, technology has been a catalyst for progress and development. This article delves into the myriad ways in which technology has positively influenced society, making our lives better and more efficient.

Table of Contents

Improved communication and connectivity .

The advent of technology has revolutionized communication, breaking down barriers of time and distance. With the rise of smartphones, social media platforms, and messaging apps, people can now connect instantly with friends and family across the globe. Businesses can also communicate effortlessly with their customers, improving customer service and building stronger relationships. The positive impact of technology on society is evident in the way it has fostered global connections, encouraging cultural exchange and understanding.

Advancements in Healthcare

Technology has played a pivotal role in transforming the healthcare industry, leading to better patient outcomes and improved quality of life. Medical advancements, such as telemedicine, electronic health records, and medical imaging technologies, have made healthcare more accessible and efficient. Patients can now receive consultations from specialists remotely, reducing the need for travel and saving time. Moreover, technological innovations in surgical procedures and medical devices have increased precision and minimized risks. The positive impact of technology on society’s health cannot be overstated, as it continues to save lives and alleviate suffering.

Education and Learning 

The positive impact of technology on society’s education sector has been profound. E-learning platforms, interactive educational software, and online courses have made learning more engaging and accessible to a broader audience. Students from different backgrounds can access educational resources and pursue knowledge at their own pace. Additionally, technology has empowered teachers with advanced tools to create dynamic and personalized learning experiences. This has led to improved learning outcomes and greater student engagement, fostering a generation of lifelong learners.

Enhancing Economic Growth 

Technology has been a driving force behind economic growth and prosperity. Automation and digitalization have streamlined business processes, leading to increased productivity and efficiency. E-commerce platforms have expanded market reach, enabling businesses to connect with consumers globally. Moreover, technology has facilitated the rise of startups and entrepreneurial ventures, stimulating innovation and job creation. The positive impact of technology on society’s economy is evident in its ability to create new markets and industries, generating opportunities for growth and development.

Environmental Sustainability 

Technology has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against environmental challenges. From renewable energy solutions to smart grid systems, technology has enabled the efficient use of resources and reduced carbon emissions. IoT devices and sensor technologies have been employed to monitor environmental conditions, aiding in better conservation efforts. The positive impact of technology on society’s environment has led to increased awareness and sustainable practices, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

Empowerment and Inclusivity 

Technology has democratized information and empowered individuals from all walks of life. Access to the internet and digital tools has opened up opportunities for marginalized communities and provided them with a platform to voice their concerns and aspirations. Social media has played a crucial role in mobilizing social movements and driving positive change. The positive impact of technology on society’s inclusivity is evident in the way it has bridged gaps and empowered individuals to participate in social and political discourse.

Transportation and Mobility  

Technological advancements have revolutionized transportation and mobility, making it faster, safer, and more convenient. The development of electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve road safety. Furthermore, ride-sharing and mobility-as-a-service platforms have enhanced transportation options, reducing the dependence on private vehicles. The positive impact of technology on society’s transportation sector is evident in the way it has transformed urban mobility and made transportation more sustainable.

The positive impact of technology on society cannot be overstated. From revolutionizing communication to enhancing healthcare, education , and economic growth, technology has brought about transformative changes in various spheres of human life. It has connected people across the globe, improved healthcare outcomes, made education more accessible, and stimulated economic development. Moreover, technology has contributed to environmental sustainability, empowering individuals and promoting inclusivity. As we move forward, it is essential to harness the potential of technology responsibly, ensuring that its positive impact on society continues to shape a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

Conclusion – the positive impact of technology on society

In conclusion, the positive impact of technology on society has been transformative and far-reaching. From communication to healthcare, education, the economy, the environment, and empowerment, technology has brought about positive changes that have improved our lives significantly. As we embrace technological innovations, it is crucial to continue exploring ways to leverage technology for the greater good, while also addressing potential challenges and concerns. By harnessing the power of technology responsibly and ethically, we can build a brighter and more inclusive future for all, where the positive impact of technology on society continues to shape a better world.

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Home / Essay Samples / Information Science and Technology / Advantages of Technology / The Impact of Technology on Society: An Argumentative Perspective

The Impact of Technology on Society: An Argumentative Perspective

• Category: Information Science and Technology
• Topic: Advantages of Technology , Disadvantages of Technology , Effects of Technology

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