Final Blog Post: Impact Of Tech
Technology and Social media has become a huge part of people’s daily lives. People have built a relationship with technology, which can be deeply personal, yet also a shared experience through all. I often ask myself whether my own connection with technology is healthy. On the surface of it, I receive news instantly through updates and receive messages from friends and family. But on the other side I find myself mindlessly scrolling, checking updates and notifications compulsively. This habit has left me to question whether I am the one controlling technology or is technology controlling me. In addition to this, is technology keeping tabs on everything I view? “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master”(Christian Lange). It’s scary to think how much technology has evolved and how it will continue to grow in the near future.
Time management is a huge issue that I face, along with many other individuals. Especially in today's world, it's very easy to get distracted from completing important tasks in daily life. Numerous hours spent on a screen, between work, social media, and entertainment quickly add up if you are not paying attention. While most of the time you are entertaining yourself using whatever device, it's easy to lose track of time on less meaningful things while you could be doing something important. I find myself distracted easily, especially when I scroll on Instagram Reels, I get side tracked from my work to watch short clips. “Our attention spans have been reduced by the immediate gratification provided by smartphones and social media”(Katherine Ryan). This quote demonstrates the negatives effects technology and social media has on people. It distracts us from reality, drains our energy, and makes us look for the next thing to satisfy or distract our minds.
On the bright side, technology keeps me informed and educates me. It brings knowledge to my fingertips and exposes me to different perspectives on what is happening around me. Getting information on something is the easiest thing to do nowadays, all you have to do is search the information you're looking for on a search engine, and in an instance you can view everything you were looking for. On the other hand, technology has the capacity to mislead us. The rise of misinformation online has taught me to be careful as to what I look at and listen to. “When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real”(Jimmy Gomez). It's critical to cross check facts and seek credible information by searching for information on government or university certified websites. The tension between gaining wisdom and encountering falsehoods in an ongoing problem society faces today. I do worry about these issues, but I also recognize that they are intrinsic to the world we live in. Technology is going nowhere, it's going to continue to evolve and impact our lives, so learning how to coexist with technology is a better option than rejecting it.
My online footprint is another area of reflection. While searching myself on the web reveals a clean presence, including professional profiles, social media accounts, and a few public pictures or links. While this is reassuring to me, it's a reminder of how much our digital presence defines us. If I were to apply for a job today, I’d feel confident that my online image portrays a responsible and engaged individual. However, I realized the importance of having a good presence on the web. I wouldn’t want anything to resurface that could affect me in the working force, especially stupid pictures or videos. Ultimately, our relationship with technology is a double edged sword. Technology is a powerful tool that enhances people's daily lives, but demands careful navigation to prevent distractions from our well being. The key for me is balance, in maintaining a conscious balance. As our society continues to advance and evolve, this balance will remain a critical conversation, one that each of us must engage thoughtfully and proactively in.
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