Technology has advanced immensely in the current times, which has changed the way of doing things. Conflicting debates revolve around technology as some people argue that it improves people's lives while others appear to oppose the ideology. Some people may argue that technology impacts people negatively to the extent of causing physical and emotional health problems. I had a conversation with my Uncle about the impact of technology on society, and he shared almost similar sentiments with mine. Undoubtedly, technology yields vast benefits in improving people’s lives in every sphere, including at work, health sector, and at home. However, it has acted as a substitute for physical interaction, thus leading to negative impacts. This paper will analyze the significant issues caused by technology based on my Uncle's conversation and reading from the course materials.
Several issues came up from the conversation with my Uncle. He stated that technology has significantly affected communication negatively. At first, I opposed his idea. After all, I thought that technological devices and platforms like social media have made communication easier because people can interact with each other regardless of the geographical barrier. However, he expounded on his idea and stated that online interaction could not substitute physical communication. Significant communication values have been lost as a result of technology. People can no longer hold face-to-face communication because even when they hang around each other, they are always scrolling on their technological devices. As a result, people fail to bond effectively with their loved ones. Therefore, friends and family members may encounter loneliness because technology has acted as a distraction for people to bond and express their emotions. People can spend more hours online interacting through social media platforms and still feel lonely and depressed because online communication is not similar to physical interactions.
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Through the increased adoption of using technological devices, people have lost the ability to engage in meaningful communication. I have been a victim of having meaningless communication with my peers, especially when you have something vital that you would like to address. In most cases, I tend to withhold whatever I wanted to talk about because the non-verbal communication portrayed by my friends does not appear receptive. Non-verbal communication helps people to connect and set a conducive environment for conversations ( Hettiarachch, 2016 ). People will understand each other if there is a proper application of non-verbal skills. Losing non-verbal communication leads to loss of connections and ability to show an emotional connection with others, thus, losing the purpose of relationships and friendship. Based on Heath & Heath's (2008) book, some ideas are more memorable than others. The value of communication determines what people will remember and what they will forget. People need to adopt effective communication primarily through physical interactions and proper non-verbal skills.
Furthermore, losing non-verbal communication contributes to the inability to read emotions, empathize with others and think deeply. Non-verbal communication can clearly show a person’s emotions and help the other party understand them. Consequently, they can comfort and empathize with each other. Sherry Turkle's ideology states that technology's communication and interaction degrade the quality of human relationships (Turkle, 2016). People have lost communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, as they prefer to spend most of their time on their devices connecting with people. Undoubtedly, no healthy relationship can be established without adequate and deep communication. Communication is a skill that needs to be developed. Unfortunately, technology is a barrier to developing proper communication skills leading people to lose their culture as social beings. Additionally, Turkle's argument of using technology moderately and intentionally makes sense to me because when people allow technology to control their lives quality communication will be lost, leading to broken relationships, families, and friendships. Furthermore, she encourages teachers, parents, and bosses to act as role models. It is essential for influential people in society to lead others on the right path.
I have been a victim of technological devices, and they have affected my communication skills. Just like most young people, I have preferred online interaction and activities. I spend most of my time on my devices, and in a way, I have lost connection with the external world. As a result, I find it difficult to hold a physical conversation for more than ten minutes. Additionally, I also tend to be nervous during a face to face communication. Consequently, I cannot convey my intention and message properly. I am confident my tendency to spend more time on my devices than interacting with real people caused this problem. Furthermore, I have noticed that people around me are also victims of technology, just like me. Most of the time, people are always on their phones and do not pay attention to whatever is happening around them. My cognitive ability is also affected by the devices because I tend to invest more time limiting my mind in engaging in other tasks.
In conclusion, technology impacts people both positively and negatively. My uncle's conversation acted as an eye opener, and I understood technology affects communication significantly by decreasing people's ability to communicate physically. Additionally, constant online communications may result in the loss of non-verbal skills, making it hard for people to read emotions and empathize with others. As a result, people may lose the purpose of relationships and friendships. I have been a victim of technological devices at a personal level, which affected my communication skills and cognitive ability. People need to use technology in moderation to enjoy its benefits without damaging their lives.
References
Heath, C., & Heath, D. (2008). Made to Stick: Why some ideas take hold, and others come unstuck . Random House.
Hettiarachchi, D. (2016). 4 essential body language tips from a world champion public speaker [Video]. Retrieved 28 January 2021, from https://youtu.be/ZK3jSXYBNak .
Turkle, S. (2016). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age . Penguin.
