Smartphones, mobile apps, automobiles, and digital media technology have risen rapidly in recent years. They now play a vital role in the daily lives of people of all ages. While modern technology has opened up a world of possibilities, it does not mean people should jump at every one of them. One technology tool used to reduce anxiety and resolve issues is the Internet. Every job and aspect of a person’s life has some technological connection (Fukuda, 2020). How people choose to utilize technology determines the extent to which it affects them. The speed with which technology improves people’s lives is proportional to how they utilize it and how much time they spend on it. Technology has made every aspect of human life easier, making its absence problematic. However, as people get more attracted to and dependent on technology, a growing number of them develop addictions to it and become unable to control its application. Technology has made many things easier for people, but people still need to be aware of its risks.
Through the medium of communication, technology has the potential to affect every member of society. People worldwide are now connected in real-time via a global network. The world would only be able to transfer messages as smoothly as it does today with the technological innovations in communication, which have allowed people to expand how they interact, socialize, and exchange information to unprecedented levels of sophistication. With the help of technology, anyone can read the latest headlines worldwide with just a few mouse clicks (Fukuyama, 2018). Twitter and Facebook, along with other web-based applications, have surpassed local newspapers and television broadcasts as the primary means of disseminating information on global breaking news.
The adverse effects of technology on social communication are well-documented. Keeping in touch and staying informed away from computers has become so crucial to modern society that mobile devices have become a ubiquitous distraction and addiction. The need to be constantly connected has created critical threats to road safety. More than 16 million accidents occur annually because of cell phone use, and nearly 4,000 people lose their lives (Fukuyama, 2018). An accident is more likely due to a driver being distracted by their cell phone than if they were intoxicated. Nonetheless, people are progressively careful to avoid technology’s harmful effects, and increased personal responsibility and awareness of its associated destructive use will eliminate distraction and addiction. In addition, governments everywhere have enacted punishments that are on par with or even higher than the fines for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Automobiles’ detrimental effects on the environment are increasingly visible. They are the primary cause of the depletion of natural resources like fossil fuels and are a leading cause of air pollution. Cars have negative effects on both the environment and society. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1,300,000 deaths a year are caused by automobile pollution (Li et al., 2019). Despite water transport’s potential to move massive quantities of goods around the globe, pollution from boats is a major issue. Pollutants in the water and sediment caused by ships harm marine life and human health. The tourism and aquatic recreation industries, which rely on clean water, are highly impacted. However, even a breakthrough in technology as significant as the automobile has drawbacks, and solutions like electric vehicles reduce pollution levels.
The counterargument demonstrates how technological advancements have had a significant social impact through enhanced modes of transportation. People should keep using technology as businesses are reaping benefits daily from the various new transportation options available. The time it takes to get from one place to another has drastically decreased because of improvements in ground transportation, maritime transport, and aerial transport (Li et al., 2019). Trucks can now transport goods within a country in a matter of days, and airplanes can transport goods across borders in hours. Because of the ease with which developed nations can ship emergency supplies to less developed countries via air and sea, international trade has played a crucial role in relieving humanitarian crises. Most people in today’s modern world cannot fathom what it would be like not to have access to a personal automobile. Technology allows people to travel over greater distances than were previously possible.
The number of people who have benefited from technological advancements is staggering. People live in a more advanced and superior society in every way. Humans can now travel around the world in as little as 20 hours attributable to technological advancements in transportation. Technology has completely altered the way people interact with one another in modern society. The ability to quickly and easily communicate with others, as well as stay in touch with those one has known for a long time, is a major benefit of technological advancements. The vast amount of information that can be accessed with just a few clicks of a button has catapulted and will continue to increase levels of knowledge and education to new heights. When it comes to technology and its impact on society, however, too much of anything is bad. Technology should be regulated so as not to harm its users, and it should be viewed as a means of progress toward making life easier for people everywhere. Instead of corrupting and destroying society, enhanced awareness and regulations on technology usage will improve it.
References
Fukuda, K. (2020). Science, technology and innovation ecosystem transformation toward society 5.0. International Journal of Production Economics, 220, 107460. Web.
Fukuyama, M. (2018). Society 5.0: Aiming for a new human-centered society. Japan Spotlight, 27(5), 47-50. Web.
Li, Z., Khajepour, A., & Song, J. (2019). A comprehensive review of the key technologies for pure electric vehicles. Energy, 182, 824-839. Web.