Final Post - Relationship With Technology

The way we interact with technology is complicated. On one hand, technology has improved our quality of life in a variety of ways. We now have access to a wealth of knowledge and can communicate with individuals all over the world thanks to it. In many ways, this has improved our intelligence and knowledge. We have access to an almost infinite understanding of just about any topic imaginable thanks to the internet. Technology has not only increased our access to information but also made it simpler for us to process and analyze it. With the help of computers and other tools, we can rapidly and efficiently sort through vast amounts of data to uncover patterns and make connections. Due to this, we are now more effective learners and have access to insights that were before impractical.

However, technology can also have unfavorable effects. It can be distracting and addictive, and it can reduce our ability to be in the present. We might see that we spend more time looking at screens and less time engaging with the environment. I am very glad I grew up in the era before phones. Kids nowadays have phones way too early in their life at ages 12 or younger! All I had was an iPod Nano that played music and watch the Jetsons. There are numerous detrimental health impacts that can result from excessive technology use, especially among younger people, according to studies. These include things like difficulty sleeping, mental illness, and a decline in physical activity. Especially among college students technology is very hard to put down. As you see 38% of college students cannot go 10 minutes without checking their phones. Maybe this is fear of missing out on something or they could be just going back to scroll for hours. Walking around campus it's very rare to see someone walking without earbuds or looking down at their phone. Students don't watch where they're going and often risk getting in a crash with a car. 

The amount of information available online is one of the main issues with technology. This can be an excellent resource, but it can also be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many different sources of news and information, you have to be careful about who you listen to. As we talked about earlier in the semester, gatekeeping is real and there are some different perspectives and truths you may not be hearing. It can be challenging to sift through all the material on the internet to get the truth because not all of it is credible or accurate.

The problem of online presence and online footprint raises further concerns. We generate an increasing amount of data as we use technology. This can be used to monitor our behaviors, thoughts, and even movements. This could be a privacy issue and could also be utilized for evil deeds like identity theft. It can be quite challenging to take something back once it has been published online. Even if you remove the original post, copies can still be accessible online or on other people's devices. It is possible to follow your habits, ideas, and movements by looking at the things you put online. Both businesses and hackers may use this information to target you with advertisements or to steal your identity. Unexpected outcomes can result from your internet postings. You might unintentionally divulge sensitive information about yourself or others, even if you don't plan to. In general, because of the potential repercussions and the permanence of the internet, it is crucial to practice caution while posting anything online. Our connection with technology is complicated overall. Although it offers numerous advantages, there are also drawbacks that we must be aware of and take steps to mitigate.