Blog #12 - Final Post

 Our Relationship With Technology

    Technology is an ever-present force in our lives, shaping how we connect, learn, and grow. It’s impossible to ignore its transformative impact on society both good and bad. While I marvel at its potential to educate, inspire, and unite, I also recognize its darker side, the unintended consequences that affect us as individuals and as a society.

    Technology is one of the most polarizing things in the modern times, if not the most. Looking at it from the lens of everything, but the internet. Life for me has been impacted more than most due to the help of technology. In 2023, I had a very scary moment where I had to have an emergency surgery while I was overseas that left me hospitalized for weeks and needing to re-learn a lot of things that had been natural to me. I had experienced an infection in my lung that had caused me to nearly lose my life, and without modern science and technological tools I surely would have. This can be taken into the broader perspective of the world that we live in as well. I like to think of the new technology in ambulances and how with the research and advancements in other fields we are closer and closer to having ambulances be portable ER rooms. 

     With some of these advancements, there come negatives as well. With the increase of technological intelligence, it allows people to use more and more energy and electricity which is good on one hand and bad on the other. It allows us as a society to have a much simpler ease of life from things like your GPS in your car, to the camera in your phone. However, the amount of fuel that it takes to make this happen is ruining our planet and we may just run out of that fuel sooner than we think.

    When I consider my relationship with the internet though, things become seen in a different perspective. I’m torn between admiration and apprehension. On one hand, my smartphone acts as an extension of myself, connecting me to a world of information, entertainment, and relationships. I can access the world news, find out information about sports, learn a new skill, or video call a loved one across the globe over in Europe. Yet, there are times when I feel like technology consumes me more than I consume it. Hours slip away mindlessly scrolling through social media, leaving me to wonder if I’m in control of my habits or if they’re controlling me. 

This isn’t just my struggle. In my social circle, technology is both a bridge and a barrier. While it keeps us connected, it often replaces genuine interaction with surface-level communication. We’ve all been guilty of texting instead of calling or staring at our phones during meals. The irony is palpable: we use technology to stay in touch, yet we can feel more isolated than ever.

From a societal perspective, the stakes are even higher. Youth suicide rates in the U.S. have risen, correlating with the rise of social media use. According to a report from PBS NewsHour, the constant comparison and cyberbullying prevalent on these platforms contribute to declining mental health among teens. As a society, we need to address these issues by fostering healthy digital habits and prioritizing mental health.

Another concern is the vast amount of data we leave behind. My online footprint reflects my identity, but not always the version I want to present. A quick Google search can reveal more than I’m comfortable with — old photos, outdated opinions, and traces of my digital life I’d rather forget. This makes me think: should we all perform a digital audit to curate how we’re perceived?

Still, it’s not all bad. Technology gives a voice to the voiceless. For instance, Khaby Lame, a tiktoker who was able to spread his humor after being laid off as a factory worker and became the most followed person on the whole app. 

It allows people to share stories, advocate for change, and organize movements. The Internet democratizes information, offering opportunities to learn and grow that were once inaccessible. Innovations like telemedicine and online education have transformed healthcare and learning, making them more equitable.

Ultimately, our relationship with technology is what we make of it. We must strike a balance by using it to enhance our lives without letting it dominate them. As individuals, this means being mindful of how and why we engage with technology. As a society, it requires acknowledging unintended consequences and addressing them head-on. Technology holds immense power, but how we wield it determines whether it’s our savior or our downfall. Our society will only progress into a world of more technology, meaning there's no telling where we will be in a year, five years, ten years, and beyond. Technology is inevitable, so it's us to learn how we can make our future bright in a world of endless possibilities.