The adverse effects of
Technology in our Society, and Environment
There can be little doubt that
advances in modern technology will change our world forever. As with anything,
the changes brought about by technology will be both positive and negative.
Currently, everything in the developed world, from banking and international finance,
to education, to personal entertainment depends greatly on technology such as
the internet, computers, cell phones, and other technological systems which we
have come to rely on. This comes as both a blessing and a curse. On a positive note, technology has, and is
currently making our lives easier and more efficient. These days, even things
like banking can all be done with a pocket sized Smartphone and 3G internet
connection. However, the downside of all this is with technology and connections
to the world so easily accessible, we often forget basic social skills which
can lead to various social and emotional implications.
Take this scenario: your wife comes
home every day after work and spends upwards of six hours on a chat room. She
feels great because she is meeting many new people, but she is forgetting about
you, your family, and your shared household responsibilities. This is not an unrealistic
scenario at all. Many people become attached to what could almost be seen as
alternative families online. People have
been known to spend hours on these chat rooms, as well as online games such as
World of Warcraft and there are many accounts of ruined relationships due to
obsessions with excessive use of the internet. A similar example of this which
many more people , (primarily those in high school and university) is social
networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, amongst others. These are especially accessible because their
so easy to use on mobile devices, which the majority of young people have. This
means that if you have some form of smartphone, you are literally never disconnected
from social networking. This can be a major distraction from real relationships
and it can distract from important activities like school or work.
Psychologically, addiction to
technology can severely impact the social interaction skills of people due to
lack of practice. This then transmits to negatively affecting society, because
the individuals who make up society can no longer effectively interact with
each other. Technology can also have adverse environmental impacts if discarded
improperly. Many computerized devices contain heavy metals and materials which
cannot break down and which are harmful to the environment. Future
anthropologists will look upon the environmental degradation caused by our dependence
on technology with distain. However, as with everything, we must attempt to pursue
the lesser of two evils, and ironically, it is likely that future technological
developments will assist in solving the problems which technology is currently
creating for the environment. And as we
have done for thousands of years, humans will adapt to the changes technology
is bringing both to society, and to individuals.
