Zombies have evaded the earth. Walking down the busy streets of any city, one is met by numerous people wholly immersed in their phones that they barely notice their surroundings. The world we live in has seen the revolution and development of technology to the state it is presently. Technology has dramatically impacted different aspects of life, and more specifically social interactions. However, some moderations should be applied to the amount of time people spend staring at screens because people have made these platforms indispensable in their personal and professional lives. Recently, public events such as weddings are paraded by zombies who are fixated on their phones taking pictures and videos of the ongoing activities instead of having an enjoyable time with those present. Unfortunately, technology is turning people into zombies as it is highly addictive, and it breeds ignorance and loneliness amongst users regardless of the age and gender.
Supporting Arguments
Technological advancement has created the problem of poor communication where people rarely interact with their words. It has become like how the zombies from The Walking Dead walk around unable to speak to each other. Presently, every child has a smart phone and a reliable source of internet connection. Consequently, people in society have become more physically detached from each other (Shakil & Layton, 2014). In the streets at night, one is met with an almost aesthetic site of glowing screens as pedestrians tap away at their phones. Couples walking by holding each other’s hands, as the other-other unoccupied hands are constantly tweeting and posting pictures on Instagram. In the past, physically attending a party, wedding, or any other commemorated event was regarded as paramount. The rendezvous was pivotal in strengthening family relationships, friendships, and spiritual connections amongst people (Fox, 2013). Attending a wedding in this era, one would be shocked at the number of phones held out as individuals struggle to get the right pose for a perfect ‘flashback Friday picture.’ Instead of shared joy and hearty laughs, these events are filled with an unpleasant feeling of alienation and loneliness as strangers smile down at their screens throughout the ceremony. Sadly, that is all that is left to look forward to in these once highly valued and lively societal gatherings.
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Technology has turned people into zombies because it is above their control. Technology was initially intended to ease people’s lives and conveniently create free time for people to interact and go about their other social engagements. Instead, the phone has managed to consume more time leaving not even a minute for a conversation (Fox, 2013). Engagements have been called off as weddings eminently ended in divorce due to a phone. As if not enough damage has been done, the number of lives lost in road carnages has drastically increased in past two decades solely because of the unbridled use of phones and other technological gadgets such as earphones and tablets by drivers, pedestrians, and passengers (Shakib & Layton, 2014). The unrestrained use of technology has completely taken over people’s daily livelihoods becoming as essential as the very air breathed in.
Another unfortunate effect of technology is that it induces insensitivity where people do not care about being genuine. Instead of attending a graduation party and personally congratulating the graduate, technology conveniently gives the world a less strenuous way out. All that is required is a few minutes and a congratulatory comment, whether sincere or close-fisted, is posted right under the person’s status update. There is no facial expression or even emotional intellect required whatsoever (Shakil & Layton, 2014). The comment on the post is a dull, hollow, and emotionless “congratulations.” If one is surprised by the comment, then their jaws will drop at the colder response from the owner of the post, “thanks.” Technology is similar to those one-sided relationships where it only takes but never gives. Ideally, people should make their phones wait and not their friends and relatives.
Technology affects our optimal human functioning making us too reliant on it for simple tasks. Scientists have proven that there is a strong connection between addictive phone usage and partial loss of memory further proving that the much-dreaded zombie apocalypse is finally upon us. A study conducted used a random sample of four people who were asked to reflect upon their last two months and identify at least two instances where they experienced a memory lapse (Fox, 2013). As expected, three out of the four individuals attested to the hypothesis. People are always keeping an eye on their phones despite their current engagement. In case the phone is in a different room as the owner, a paranoid feeling creeps in, and eventually, the individual will end up getting their phones despite no notifications or calls.
Opposing Arguments
Human nature is the real culprit because technology is not a debatable matter. Technology is a clear definition of humankind’s core desires to learn, explore, develop, and make life easier. Therefore, being against technology can as well be perceived as being against humanity (Ashurst, 2014). Tragically, the level in which a society is technologically aware influences their interdependence on technology and the more the society gets susceptible to evil characters. The technology was meant to impact the world nobly but is instead blamed for almost every social vise there is. The world is mandated to comprehend that it is people who use technology wrongfully and not the other way round (Townsend, 2017). For instance, the choice of not personally communicating to one’s loved ones solely lies on the individual and not the gadget as commonly presumed. Technology cannot be blamed for the actions of lone villains to disrupt the lives of its users. Arguing against technology would thus necessitate one to target human nature.
The world has an ethical responsibility to enhance the strength and presence of technology, but instead, in a somewhat paradoxical manner, numerous people dwell on the exact opposite. Sadly, the world is striving hard to reduce the influence and presence of technology which comes off as hypocritical given that every aspect of life is defined by technology (Ashurst, 2014). For instance, the health care system which is vital to preserving life would be gravely impaired by the absence of technology globally. The double standards surrounding technology are rather comical. In one scenario, people find no fault in enjoying blockbuster sci-fi movies and action thrillers or using thermostats to regulate temperature in the scorching heat of summer or the chilling cold of winter but appear to have a problem with technology when it inconveniences them to their actions (Townsend, 2017). Mildly putting it, technology is unfairly treated by the very society it serves to revamp.
Conclusion
Technology has undoubtedly changed the very essence of existence. The world as we knew it is no more and while it may be a good thing, technology has consequentially impacted the day to day activities of individuals. Myriads of benefits can be attributed to the presence and power of technology in the world but so can the social vises that continue to spread and advance. Technology has caused a feeling of detachment and alienation amongst people deteriorating the states of various relationships irrespective of the nature of understanding. Communication is one of the most valuable components of any human relationship and technology, which was primarily meant to develop it, has dramatically destructed it. Technology has in some aspects proven worthwhile to the world but has also profoundly impacted the lives of people negatively.
References
Ashurst, C. (2014). Benefits realization from information technology . Place of publication not identified: Palgrave Macmillan.
Fox, S. (2013). The innovation big picture: Including effectiveness dependencies, efficiency dependencies, and potential negative effects within the framing of new technologies. Technology in Society , 35 (4), 306-314.
Shakib, J., & Layton, D. (2014). Interaction between ethics and technology. 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Ethics in Science, Technology and Engineering , 33-45.
Townsend, P. (2017). Good technologies with bad side effects. The Dark Side of Technology , 51-63.
