Technology has revolutionized the way we have lived since the early 20th century. Some forms of technology have made positive changes to the world, but there is evidence of negative effects as well.
The recent technological boom has completely changed our lifestyle. These advancements are allowing people to be more connected than ever before. Ironically, it has also contributed to the exact opposite. People are becoming more isolated from the world as we spend more time online.
Times are a lot different now from when I grew up. Nowadays, everything seems to be so impersonal. People are glued to their phones throughout the entire day. Everyone prefers to communicate electronically and hide behind a screen.
Personally, I find it difficult to build a rapport with anyone if it isn’t in-person. It doesn’t give me the incentive to care as much as I should. Maybe, I’m a part of the problem…
The Man, The Myth, The Machine
Big tech companies, like Google, need to distract us in order to make money. Their success is measured by “engagement.” They design their products to “engage” the maximum number of people. (Hari, 2021, p. 113)
Everything we see online is predetermined by an algorithm. It shows us content, with the intent, to keep our eyes glued to the screen. These sites usually tend to exploit negativity to generate attention.
On average, we will stare at something negative and outrageous for a lot longer than we will stare at something positive and calm. (Hari, 2021, p. 131)
Everything we do online is collected. These companies are building a customer profile of us to sell to advertisers. The longer we spend online, the better it is for these tech giants. This is how they make their money.
Social Media Distancing
In recent years, I’ve distanced myself from technology. I stopped playing video games and deleted most of my social media accounts to get away from all the nonsense. It was a needed break to get my life back on track.
I still use technology, but I try not to rely on it too much during my leisure time. It’s more satisfying to go outside and smell the roses once in a while. I’ve found my serenity when I’m around other three-dimensional people. Although, every day becomes more of a challenge as technology starts to consume more time in our lives.
Johann Hari. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again. New York, Crown, 2021.
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