Technology! It could make or mar your lives but you will agree it does the former more than the latter. It is all dependent on the hands of the people each technological advancement and device falls into. Life would have been much more difficult in this century if we did not have the bright minds in history to fix them all up for us.
Positive Effects of Technology
Access to information and education
The best thing about technology is the wide range of opportunities available for learning across different platforms. These days, your assignments and test questions are just a Google away from a correctly answered submission. Technology has made learning more fun and sparked creativity amongst those who can utilize these technologies in the best possible way.
Improved medical care and treatment options
Have you ever had a bedtime story about one of your relatives who died due to the lack of improved healthcare facilities and treatment options? Then you know how it feels to have these at our fingertips lately. Technology has made the healthcare sector a viable and enviable sector in all of the economically enhanced industries around the world. Mortality rates have been reduced thanks to technology. A lot of fertility issues women suffer from have been addressed and the future seems bright for all mothers and young women at large.
Efficiency and productivity in various industries
Today, every industry globally with the budget to invest in equipment and tools is thankful for technology. There has been an improvement in how work is done in these industries. Productivity and efficiency have high records because technology handed this power to these companies to utilize.
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Entertainment and leisure options
Entertainment has seen a rise since technology helped in its advancement. Streaming services saw a leap in marginal growth and profit. Individuals can log in to their favorite streaming site at their leisure and have fun with friends and family all at an affordable cost.
Negative effects of technology
Job Loss
It is widely known that as humans we are afraid of the advent of Artificial intelligence and automation. Some of us are of the notion that AI is here to take our jobs and leave us in abject poverty. Although this is far from the truth, we cannot tell what the future holds for certain career choices and industries.
Sedentary lifestyle and potential health issues
These days, a lot of people depend on technology for most of their daily activities. In the past, taking up those tasks without the use of robots or mobile devices was essential for our overall well-being. Today, sedentary lifestyles have brought alarming consequences in the form of health complications and more.
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Reduced face-to-face interaction
Gone are the days when we could visit our friends and family to catch up on the affairs of their lives. Lately, all of our interactions happen on our mobile devices and laptops. We no longer see the need to step out of our homes since we can communicate with ease on social media and messaging platforms. Therefore, face-to-face interaction has been reduced since the advent of technology.
Cyberbullying and harassment
Cyberbullying and other form of harassment has been the order of the day since the advent of technology. A lot of people do not feel safe about their interactions on social media because they are scared of being bullied. People hide behind their social media accounts to threaten innocent victims, defraud, and attack other humans all in the name of free speech.
Technology addiction
Everyone, regardless of who you are and where you live, unless you have learned to be conscious of the time you spend on social can attest to being addicted. Technology has been built to cater to our needs and the algorithms are made enticing to offer us solutions to quick fixes and cures for boredom. Many people turn to their social media pages for solutions to these psychological experiences instead of healthy precautions.
Conclusion
We are seeing the speed at which things are done and in the past people always wanted to do more with less. Today, this has become a reality. We can create memories in a split second. We could connect with our loved ones from wherever we go. Even payment platforms have made it difficult for families far and wide to reach their loved ones. And they can send funds for them to live their dreams. Technology had a more positive reality than past generations. These things we are experiencing are things they dreamt and imagined but some never believed it would become second nature to the generations unborn. But here we are, at our fingertips, a lot is done and there is no doubt a lot more will be done soon. However, we must find a balance while utilizing technology.