Teens and Technology Share a Future: Argumentative Essay

It is no secret that there are both good and bad things about the use of technology. For teenagers, technology is a fun way to stay connected to their friends and family, like with social media apps like Instagram and Facebook (ReachOut Australia, 2019). Another way that some teenagers stay connected is through online-gaming, and spending time with their online friends, playing games like Fortnite (ReachOut Australia, 2019). However, some may spend too much time online and, if abused, there can be major risks of technology use (ReachOut Australia, 2019).

From behind a screen, one can feel more powerful, and it is easier to say something mean or fight with someone because of this, rather than face-to-face. This can quickly turn to troll or even cyberbullying, where a person bullies someone else online (ReachOut Australia, 2019). It is important to educate kids and teenagers on how to be good digital citizens. They need to understand how it works and know that what you post online, good or bad, stays out there forever. Too much time spent online can invite isolation between them and their family or friends (ReachOut Australia, 2019). The use of technology can also become dangerous when it comes to catfishing and inappropriate relationships, naïve young teenagers may befriend a stranger online.

The majority of teenagers in the United States spend an average of nine hours a day using some type of screen-based technology, half of that time spent on a cell phone, to access the internet and use social media (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018). There is a big concern with the mental health of teenagers due to the amount of time they spend using their technology (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018). The rise in the use of technology is connected to the increasing rates of teenage depression, anxiety, and suicide (Rocha, 2019, p. 5). They also may spend more time online to compensate for a lack of social skills (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018). Spending time online replaces the time spend on socially stimulating activities, like spending time with friends or family or enjoying a hobby (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018). This can increase feelings of social anxiety or depression (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018). For teenagers with ADHD or depression, there are concerns that technology use may amplify their offline symptoms, which will further isolate at-risk teenagers through solitary online activities (George, Russell, Piontak, & Odgers, 2018).

There are different generational groups; Generation Z describes those with birthdays between 1996 to 2010 (Insider Inc., 2019). In this cohort, specifically, depression rates are higher than in previous generations (Frye, 2019). Phones and social media are the biggest culprits (Frye, 2019). Now more than ever, teenagers are using technology in their everyday lives. They walk down the street, sit at a restaurant table, and are glued to their phones. Researchers believe that this large amount of technology use may increase the risk of depression and suicide in teenagers (Frye, 2019). A study published in Nature Human Behavior observed the daily habits and overall mental health of nearly 350,000 teenagers (Frye, 2019). Researchers concluded that technology use was negatively linked to mental health (Frye, 2019). There have been numerous studies that have said that changes in mental health can lead to greater use of technology (Frye, 2019). Another study published in Clinical Psychological Science surveyed how social media use and depressive symptoms had changed in teenagers over a period of several years (Frye, 2019). Researchers found that depressive symptoms predicted greater social media use mostly in teenage girls (Frye, 2019).

For people of all ages, especially teenagers, technology use is all about moderation (ReachOut Australia, 2019). Setting healthy limits is important to reduce the overuse of technology by teenagers (Rocha, 2019, p. 7). Teenagers need to learn how to balance their activities so that they don’t spend hours on their technology (ReachOut Australia, 2019). Parental involvement may help to ease some of the risks that may come with technology use (Rocha, 2019, p. 5). Specialists recommend “active monitoring” rather than “restrictive monitoring” (Rocha, 2019, p. 6). Active monitoring can be anything from co-viewing the technology with their teens to checking their teen’s phone or keeping it with them at night (Rocha, 2019, p. 6). Parents can also help by limiting screen time and replacing it with physical exercise, learning, and other types of off-screen play (ReachOut Australia, 2019). It is also very important to have face-to-face time with people (ReachOut Australia, 2019). Finally, there should also always be an open line of communication between teenagers and their parents (Rocha, 2019, p. 6). Conversations can be structured or unstructured, like a family dinner, and families should talk about types of media, why their teen likes them, and how to use them responsibly (Rocha, 2019, p. 6).   

Technology Ruins Society: Persuasive Essay

Despite piles of evidence that the earth’s climate is rapidly changing, the United States government actively ignores the crisis. People around the world are becoming extremely anxious about our planet’s future. Sadly, this anxiety is often outweighed by the pressures of our consumerist society. Either way, anxiety, and other mental health issues are serious problems that are just now being dealt with. Having a relationship with nature is crucial to a healthy mental state, but as the modern world grows our connection with others and the earth diminishes. The relationship between humans and nature is dying because of growing technology in consumerist societies. As a result, the climate crisis is worsening without corresponding concern.

Consumerism forces people to focus on the value of their possessions, rather than the value of their relationships with others. In places like the U.S., people find pleasure in purchasing products. You can easily guess someone’s personality solely based on how they decorate their house, what car they have, or what kind of groceries they buy. Showing someone your appreciation is done by buying them a gift, not by simply telling that person you love them. Whether we like it or not, the things we buy matter. That is what makes a consumerist society. Writer Anjana Aravind explains how she believes consumerism can change, “Our way of thinking must be changed to focus more on the environmental and societal consequences of our actions rather than on instant pleasure.” (“Consumerism”). The reason this philosophy is so hard to incorporate into the United States is, along with consumerism, our society is also built on the idea of individualism. The idea that if something doesn’t benefit me directly, what’s the point? People find it hard to accept that climate change is a matter of ours and not mine. The prospect of completely shifting an entire worldview is huge. Until the livable environment goes completely downhill, most governments will choose economic power over environmental safety. Meanwhile, regular citizens are facing the brunt of the negative effects that consumerism brings. As evident in the tv show Modern Family, the things we own are placed at a higher value than people. The episode “Game Changer” illustrates this when Phil finally receives the iPad that he had been waiting for the entire episode. Throughout the episode, Phil is so happy knowing that he will get the iPad for his birthday, but as soon as he is told that they couldn’t find one, he falls deep into a depressive state. He suddenly doesn’t care that his family has all come to his house to celebrate, he doesn’t care that they got him other gifts, and he doesn’t care about anything other than getting the iPad. Until, at the end of the episode, when they surprise him with the iPad, he completely turns around and loves his family again. They all huddle around Phil, with the iPad in the center, and marvel at how amazing the iPad is. While this episode is clearly just about advertising the iPad, it gives a good insight into how we treat each other compared to how we treat our things. Often the quality of the gift we receive overshadows the gesture of giving the gift. In the end, the gift becomes more important than the person giving it. This ruins the chance of creating a meaningful relationship with anyone, when there is a product in the way. Along with consumerism, improving technology has also had a serious impact on our relationships with others. That is common knowledge at this point. But I would argue that with the rise of the internet, the relationship we have with ourselves has been impacted the most.

The rise of the internet has fostered a breeding ground for negative content; some of which can actually become dangerous. There are many communities online that promote dangerous activities. Most of these websites are carefully hidden, or blocked altogether. One of these communities that is widely known, but hardly addressed/talked about is the Pro-Anorexia community, “Those who identify as ‘pro-ana’ view anorexia as a lifestyle choice and, as such, development and maintenance of anorexia is encouraged” (“Friending Ana”, Harmon and Rudd). Anorexia nervosa is a widely known mental illness characterized by having a distorted body image, and an actively restricting diet. As explained by Harmon and Rudd, many anorexic patients do not even recognize anorexia as an illness, but rather as a way of living. This allows for some justification of the illness as a coping mechanism. From there, anorexia becomes something to strive for instead of a grotesque illness. This is why the Pro-Ana community is so easily accessible, those involved claim that they are not promoting a dangerous illness, so they get through the censorship nets on many websites. Recently, apps and websites like Instagram and Tumblr purged Pro-Ana search terms. When searching these terms a user will only find an eating disorder crisis hotline and a blocked page. While this is an improvement, just by doing the simple Google search, “pro-ana”, one of the first websites is theproanatips.com. A blog providing information on drastic weight loss, “thinspiration” (aesthetically pleasing pictures of dangerously thin bodies), and insane diets usually consisting of only fruits and fasting for days on end. Obviously, this is alarming when thinking of a young person stumbling upon a similar website and thinking that these dangerous habits are good for you. Anyone can access this website and see that they are promoting a lifestyle that could turn into a serious medical eating disorder. So how does the creator of the website justify the dangerous information they provide? On the website, there is an “about” section. Here is their disclaimer: “We provide methods which are highly effective and show excellent results… we do not support the eating disorder Anorexia in any form, and we think that it is a disease, that should be cured with immediate attention if someone is suffering from it.” Seemingly, a good message. But, remember, the website domain name literally says Pro Anorexia Tips. This contradiction completely voids their disclaimer. Websites like this one need to be, at the very least, monitored. Anyone can access this information. There are no regulations for Pro Anorexia search terms on Google, and social media websites have only begun to block it. 

Speech on Technology

Technology… hmm… Though the question can be easily asked, its answer is not that straightforward. The word Technology can be seen in many different contexts and can be defined or explained accordingly. Still, the simplest form to answer “What is Technology?” is “Putting the knowledge into action to meet the needs.”

Let’s explore

It is to be taken into account that Science and Technology, though related, have entirely different goals. The goal of Science is to know the world around us. Whereas Technology aims at making our lives better by using the knowledge gained. It is more focused on the application of knowledge for the betterment of ourselves or we can say Technology always tries to get that knowledge which can be used to meet our needs.

The Technology is computers is aimed at developing gadgets and tools for the ease of working of man. The technology in Economics is aimed to produce useful goods faster, better, cheaper, and in more and more quantity. Technology in medicine deals with inventing equipment to save people with critical health problems, treat patients with ease, and tools for the comfort of the disabled. With every field of human life, technology changes its preference and functioning. That’s why it is almost impossible to arrange words in a sentence that will give the exact and all-encompassing definition of Technology.

Clearing the picture

For practical purposes and to easily understand what Technology actually is we have mentioned a brief informal definition of Technology, “The application of knowledge” or say “Making something using the knowledge gained for the fulfilling of the current needs.”

Need an official definition?

Now you may have an almost clear picture of what technology is actually. If you still want to know the formal and official definition of Technology, here is what the internationally recognized Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us about Technology:

“Application of knowledge to the practical aims of human life or to changing and manipulating the human environment. Technology includes the use of materials, tools, techniques, and sources of power to make life easier or more pleasant and work more productive. Whereas science is concerned with how and why things happen, technology focuses on making things happen.”

Pretty accurate and nicely explained, right?

A few examples will do

Now let’s see some examples which will help to understand the concept better.

Some persons of core science are studying and researching parts of atoms like electrons, protons, and neutrons. They gain the knowledge of flow of electrons through the conductors. But Technology is about making use of this knowledge and creating machines and devices like semiconductors, and computers and using them for the betterment of humans.

A team of archaeologists is excavating an ancient site. They get some coins, bones, and utensils there. Now, it is Technology that helps them to figure out exactly how old that stuff is. So that they can make some propositions about the human civilization that lived there thousands of years ago.

You know now what technology is and how useful it is for us.

Pros and Cons of Technology

When we glance at the day-to-day life of common human beings, especially, from the toothbrush they use in the morning to the table lamp they switch off before going to sleep, all are products of Technology. Technology has given us gadgets like ventilators, BP monitors, and ECGs which proved beneficial. On the other hand, missiles, atom and hydrogen bombs, and bio-chemo weapons that are kept ready to destroy human civilization within hours are also products of Technology.

The same thing is true for computer-mobile smart devices technology. They have also proved to be a boon and bane at the same time.

Conclusion

So, all this explanation is certainly more than enough to give you an idea about “What is Technology”. Technically, you know what Technology is but to be a bit philosophical, we must remember that Technology is always neutral. It is up to us humans, to decide and use it to make a “Gun” and take the life of innocents to show our “Power” or make a “Pen” and spread the knowledge to “empower” the world!!

References :

    1. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/engineering-and-technology/technology/what-technology
    2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology#Science,_engineering,_and_technology

Are We Too Dependent on Technology: Argumentative Essay

The increasing use and reliance on technology have a specific term in the psychological sector: ‘Applied science dependence ’ which is a more apt name than ‘technology applied science addiction’. The use of tech is so common and trusted today that doctors have started recommending going for ‘technology detox’. One of the rising trends which are included in the Oxford Dictionary where this treatment is composed of spending time where the person does not use any electronic device like smartphones, computers, or any data processors in order to minimize stress and concentrate on reducing stress and creating real-life social interactions in the physical world.

To understand the intensity of technological addiction, a person who uses the internet, computer networks, smart devices, or any such technologies could ask themselves or their friends if they can spend the day without their gadgets. The response instantly would be yes which is a clear indication of addicted behavior, response contraption, the affirmation is the usual answer of all addicts.

But in reality, one cannot spend even an hour if the mobile phone is switched off, Internet Cyberspace is down, or the computer is hung. Hence today’s today’s world is in need of computers, technology, and the Internet.

Advantages of relying on Internet information:

  1. Increase self-learning and information acquisition skills.
  2. Develop interactive abilities and share information, opinions, and different types of experiences.
  3. Spreading the culture of e-commerce and teaching the ways to buy, sell, produce, and market goods online.
  4. Explore different aspects and areas of the world.
  5. Enhance data collection and hobbies.

Disadvantages of relying on Internet information:

  1. Constant use of the internet alienates people and stops them from self-reflection.
  2. A lot of sites present wrong information or immoral like pornographic sites, extremist sites, viruses, hackers, drudge, hackers, spam, criminal networks, meshing, and so on
  3. A large amount of time is wasted using nonuseful sites.
  4. The wrong presentation leads to people having the wrong information.
  5. Lack of security results in stealing the effort of other people and marketing it as ownership.

The age of the internet and development has led to a drastic fall back in people’s personal progress in this day and age because of their reliance on computers internet and such luxuries since they provide a virtual unrealistic smaller society with its social and communication tools.

It has been proven that the advancement of machines is vital for humanity’s progress. Machines are used by people to ease their burdens and facilitate their work, transforming raw materials into profitable and useful resources, this results in the extreme reliance we see today. An international study on the importance of social networks in creating a platform for marketing and advertisements has shown that 46% of users require social media feedback to make their purchases.

71% of users follow company pages which leads them to acquire their products, therefore, creating a base of a hundred million consumers from all over the globe.

Such tech has taken a large portion of our lives and turned people into a consumer way of thinking, no longer interested in thinking or saving.

One of the most felt effects of this large influence is how many people no longer memorize phone numbers completely unable to recall the simple tasks that once were common and easy.

Evolution is inescapable and today computers, mobiles, pads, and similar gadgets have become a part of our lives but how entirely are our lives woven around them and what cons or pros do these machines have? They have for example facilitated educational methods but provided limitless access to different harmful materials.

Conclusion:

According to different studies, one of the most visible dangers of the internet includes internet cyberspace as being New World chat rooms.

It has different materials and data and is described most accurately as a one-to-many communication channel, providing resources and a lot of advantageous sites and platforms. However, just as it has many advantages it has many hidden risks, which if not discussed with children can lead to catastrophic results. There are many paths suggested to parents on how to keep their kids aware of such dangers and how to avoid them. Parents should take more interest in what their children are doing when they are online, as well as keeping themselves informed about the internet and computers in general. Filters are a good example of how parents can control what their children access online.

You must rely on self-reflection first and then resort to the Internet to develop the thinking of people

  1. https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/society/living-in-the-modern-tech-age-and-too-dependent-on-computers-technology-and-internet-how-far-is-this-true-and-good
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQfV6COHbU
  3. A Short History of Nearly Everything (Paperback) by Bill Bryson (shelved 44 times as science-technology) 

Essay on Technology and Communication

Communication performs a major function in the team spirit and of course, as what we have tackled before, in the direction of globalization. It is a time-honored device that led us to an organized life where anybody could basically relate to one’s perceptions and vice versa. Everywhere and almost the whole thing is connected to verbal exchange as tons as how technological know-how has also certainly led us to a top life. Scientists resulted in this thought where they see applied sciences as tools to ease existence and reap such benefits, at least a better lifestyle than the previous centuries. Such benefits are handy to get the right of entry to communication, much less manual labor, and even changing our bodily appearance is possible. Most importantly, we can evaluate such situations from then versus now, the place the distinction between time and house can be observed. However, the negative aspects of technology can additionally be viewed as primary elements of such prudent and unpleasant modifications however with the proper guide, it can be aided and used properly for a better evolution of each important concept in this topic. Thus, via inspecting the difference, we can consequently conclude that technological know-how raised our community nicely thru high-quality and practical advantages and it has constantly led us to accurate life truly due to the fact it is a phase of our lives as barring it, such regular materials, requirements to be exact, even our home used to be delivered about via the technology, and such literate manners, as well as knowledge, will no longer ever be possible. Only if we will be aware of how to use it well, then there may be no need for terrible circumstances to occur.

Different types of communication such as interpersonal, interpersonal, public group, and mass are very sensible to use. Through technology, we can see it is enhancement and effortless get right of entry to to a profitable communication. As science takes over the route to a more lenient life, it additionally covers the direction to such varieties of communication. Further than that, I accept as true that there are particular methods that the technological know-how ought to assist these forms of communication. Such of these are better interaction, speed, reliability, accomplishing a larger audience, marketing, and public relations. Better interplay comes in new forms of verbal exchange that have emerged as a result of technological advancements, the most popular of which is online communication. Introvert human beings could subsequently have the threat to discuss with strangers thru technology and they could, at least interact with them without any fear beneath such circumstances. People can meet each different in chat rooms and dialogue boards barring needing to meet in person. They now have greater picks when it comes to dealing with social anxiousness as an end result of this. It also permits students to learn and communicate with their lecturers without having to leave the house. Speed is without a doubt the most enormous technological advancement in communication. Instant messages and different varieties of facts may be transferred to any vicinity on the earth due to the fact of Wi-Fi signals, satellites, undersea cables, and different technological technology. Instant conversation is the norm nowadays. Even these living in distant locations are connected to the relaxation of the globe. As such, it is way extra dependable to ship these communications electronically than it is to send them by using bodily mail. You can have faith in your device to supply the message as long as the data cables are safe. One danger is that hackers would attempt to steal facts and information supplied on social media networks. End-to-end encryption is general on most messaging applications, such as WhatsApp. Chatting apps are already commonplace, which reduces the risk of a transmission glitch. Communication and media advertising and marketing can now attain a wider target market thanks to technological advancements. Businesses continuously use science to improve their employees’ productivity and inventiveness. Social media is used for a huge portion of online communication. Companies have additionally benefited from verbal exchange media by means of saving a considerable quantity of cash that would have been spent on a tv commercial.

Effect of New Communications Technology on the Way Social Movements Are Organized: Critical Essay

Introduction

A core element involved with social movements is collective action and mobilization which requires “space” or “venues” for which to exist in order to create a statement or portray a message. Social movements create associations with a unique purpose and engage in tactics such as demonstrations, petitions, drives, public statements, and meetings; with actors who attempt to identify themselves as public and worthy of their cause. Through group action, these movements target things such as government authorities, business owners, religious leaders, corporations, and unjust laws, and work to carry out, resist or undo social change (Deric, 150). So what then are physical space and cyberspace and why are they so vital for social movements? This physical space can be understood as areas such as a square, park, event halls, or commercial centers and cyberspace can be understood as international video media, social networking and online websites, and online groups. Typically, social movements and revolutions “are shaped by the broader set of political constraints and opportunities unique to the national context in which they are embedded” (McAdams, 3). According to Della Porta, these movements use tools such as roadblocks, protests, and public demonstrations as a means to increase and create political participation (105). Physical space is vital for movements to be successful as Fraser explains, since it allows them to better achieve their goals and creates new forms of redistribution and recognition (145). Cyberspace allows for these movements to broaden their scope and range and gain support on issues that affect lives worldwide. Movements today are forced to reshape the political space – and quite possibly the global space – in which they exist to effectively target injustice and create change; for this reason, it is difficult as well as vital for social movements to secure a physical or cyber “space”. In today’s society space no longer solely means areas in which a participant can situate themselves to make an impact, instead they have also branched off into the cyber world as a vital aspect and more than just a tool for social movements.

Compared to movements seen in the past, such as civil rights or women’s movements, today’s movements rely considerably on the power of technology to organize and associate themselves. The use of the internet today has helped and is helping to shape our understanding of social movements and the tactics they use to achieve their goals (Van Laer, 230). It can be argued that the internet has given social movements today new and improved opportunities to not only engage in social action but also in political action. The internet has allowed for social movements to transition transnationally and internationally and allowed them to operate on a more global level but “For the movement to survive, insurgents must be able to create a more enduring organizational structure to collective action” (McAdams, 13). By examining how modern movements utilize both physical and cyber “spaces”, this paper will seek to answer if modern movements can exist solely in one dimension or if it is vital to have the use of both “spaces”.

The Changing (Inter)Face of Social Movements

Gladwell explains that the world is now in a technological revolution and that the new tools of social media have shaped and changed the face of social activism; Facebook and Twitter have reinvented traditional relationships between political authority and the popular will of the people, allowing for easier methods of collaboration and coordination in voicing concerns regarding injustices (1). Soguk examines the uprisings which swept the Arab world and the effects they had in creating change or raising awareness (295). It is easily understood that these uprisings began with Twitter and Facebook, such as Hosni Mubarak getting “de-friended” by hundreds overnight as a means to pose a political statement (Soguk, 296). This use of cyberspace to demonstrate solidarity to uprisings and revolutions may seem to appear “out of this world” (Gladwell, 2) but they bring with it a notion of change. It is easy to attribute the success of certain demonstrations over others on the internet, but how much effect did it actually have?

Gladwell explains that the utilization of cyberspace such as the use of Twitter was instrumental in organizing the demonstrations, so much so that protestors asked the website to delay site maintenance at the time since they did not want any disturbances during the protests themselves (2). Yet, many of the social activists “tweeting” were not from the countries where protests and demonstrations were occurring. For example in Moldova and in Iran, the demonstrations became international yet few participants even had a Twitter or Facebook account – for most, there was no deep personal connection to the cause (Gladwell, 2). So then the “absence of any real mobilizing structure would almost surely prevent their spread to the minimum number of people required to afford a basis of collective action” (McAdams, 6). Activists, as they were previously understood, attacked deep-rooted problems and required a personal connection to a movement to be able to fully associate oneself with it (Gladwell, 3). Yet social networks seen online today increase the motivation to participate since they lessen the actual requirements of participation that were previously necessary (Gladwell, 4). Social networking sites make it easier for activists to express themselves politically, but seemingly difficult for that expression to have any real form of impact on its own. The use of the internet does help social movements organize and mobilize themselves easier, but what real significance do people “tweeting” from the other side of the world really have on the ground level of these demonstrations?

One could argue that due to the “conscious strategic efforts by groups of people to fashion shared understandings of the world and of themselves that legitimate and motivate collective action” (McAdams, 9), the use of cyberspace has created a new platform for social movements to exist and utilize – such as the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Hardt and Negri analyze the “we are here” movement and the various protests that rallied across the United States and the world (Hardt, 1). The “Occupy” movement accomplished the notion of physical space being understood as something within already existing public space as a means of creating a message through its use of encampments (Hardt, 3). Although, the movement itself would have been nothing without the attention it gained from the mass media, through the use of Facebook, Twitter, and various tools such as these to organize itself. These “tools” such as Twitter were used to make announcements for events, organized participants, and for gaining polling views of large assemblies on a specific issue or decisions in real-time, allowing for it to take on a very real cyberspace. This method works for small-scale assemblies, but can it function effectively for larger ones, to achieve larger goals with an organized element? Although the internet can be a useful tool for the organizational phase of movements, can it be considered a form of “space”?

The use of physical vs. cyber “space”

Protests of the past, as well as the more recent ones today such as “Occupy Wall Street”, “Black Lives Matter”, “#MeToo”, and the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” to name a few, show that there is a need for social change. This will not be achieved solely by occupying physical space, it will also be necessary to use more modern tools which the internet provides to create new cyberspaces and new public awareness of issues worldwide. Although physical space provides several opportunities for contentious politics by social movements, using cyberspace through computer-mediated communication can strengthen these opportunities and possibly create change faster than seen in the past; which could potentially function as a form of entirely new social movements. The use of the internet shows that it increases awareness worldwide and has the ability to create global communities and cyber spaces which have been previously unseen. It is not yet clear if social movements can be successful without the use of physical space but through analysis of some of the earlier-mentioned movements they can serve to show how the use of cyberspace can strengthen demonstrations, protests, and resolves on issues by encouraging international sympathy for a cause.

Technological advancements have allowed for the creation of broadly used social media networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, the widespread use of personal mobile devices and wireless networks, and search-based networks such as Google and YouTube, have changed the way in which people communicate with one another. People today live in an increasingly technologically accessible world in which information about individuals, organizations, and governments has become much easier to gather. Due to this, it is easier to foster and increase the popularity of social networking sites since they create communities for people to stay “connected” with one another. The use of cyberspaces helps increase the speed, reach, and effectiveness of social movements in regard to the way in which those participating can mobilize and communicate with one another (McAdams, 5). Computer-mediated communication has the potential to create a border between inward and outward communication since it allows social movements to spread uncensored information rapidly, therefore influencing the traditional mass media. Since it is a cost-effective means of communication, resource-poor actors can take advantage of it and open the arena for political communication; creating global citizens through the web (Della Porta, 93).

Essay on Technology in Math

We see different natural phenomena in our entire existence as well as nature’s explicit gifts. Some of those are constellations that somehow control people’s destinies, time and its hands revolving, the tiger’s stripes, the human bodies, buildings, and their splendid architecture, the shell of a sea creature, and the galaxies. All parts of Mathematics. Sounds amazing, isn’t it? But, with regard to those things, Mathematics is much deeper and more than that. It is more than what meets the eye.

Mathematics quantifies observations which is why it is very helpful in doing quantitative research wherein different formulas and statistical methods are used in order to find out the undeniable results about a variety of topics. It does not solve but it leads to discoveries to different problems wherein mathematicians and scientists were able to provide solutions to these. Math is also used to examine. Examining different phenomena leads to a wider and broader perspective. Some examples are the different vaccines and treatments discovered during scientific testing. These are found out due to millions of mathematical equations each observation witnessed. The processes were time-consuming and take many years, but it was worth it. It brought change to the world and improvements for future generations.

It also leads to the discovery of nature’s underlying regularities and rhythms. Some well-known scientists are Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton who used mathematics in order to find out what things exist in this universe. Some discoveries lead to the different advancements people are witnessing today and will be able to witness by future generations. These are the orbits of the planets, the gravity, electromagnetic waves, connection of time, distance speed, mass, and many more when it comes to their impact on earth when objects fell to the ground. These discoveries were mind-blowing and helpful at the same time because they opened the window to a whole different universe wherein things are not just how they seem to be, but they existed because of a purpose that is beneficial to everybody.

It also guided the way to lead people to the building blocks of matter. Different components are known for the use of complicated mathematical equations and scientific methods. A fact is that numbers are all around human beings. Even the flower petals follow the Fibonacci sequence which was a primary tool people had in mathematics. Math is also found in asymmetric human beauty, stock markets, botany, different land and water forms, living and non-living things, light and sound waves, and natural phenomena. All use a certain sequence of numbers.

A scientist said that mathematics rules programming. Mathematical properties are found in the software itself. Numbers and equations are the whole computer game. Mathematics is not just the real world but also the virtual world everyone is hooked into. It becomes the physical reality to humans. To summarize, everything is ultimately mathematical.

Math also has deep roots in history. Pythagoras was the one who first used it. It leads to inventions that lessen the work in the old times. Math also opens the world of technology wherein advancements and modernizations are seen. It improves basically everyone’s quality of life. Just like musical relationships, it has a strong link to mathematical relationships. Ratios are being used in playing a variety of musical instruments. It is the human mind interacting with the world with the use of mathematics.

The emergence of mathematics transformed the planet. Not only making things easy or discovering amazing things the world has but also improving people’s lives in many aspects. It goes beyond the people’s imagination which leads to covering and uncovering the hidden rules of the world. Though there are still some things unsolved and remained a mystery, mathematics paved the way for millions of discoveries and thousands of inventions.

In a nutshell, math is not just solving different equations with the use of numbers or a calculator rather it is all around us. The lines on the leaves, the river streams, the currency we had, the natural phenomena happening, the human population, the animals in their habitats, and a lot more. Math may be complicated at times and hard to learn when studied but math is both invented and discovered. Working hand in hand and resolving all the answers to the questions made on this mysterious earth.

Essay on Technology Vs Nature

During World War II, the U.S. made the first Nuclear weapon in human history. If a nuclear weapon explodes it can destroy a city with radiation and heat in a short amount of time. It causes people and hence everything else to burn. In 1945 the first nuclear bomb was used against imperial Japan; Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Five years later in 1950, Ray Bradbury wrote a short story called “There will come soft rains”, The story takes place later when an unexplained nuclear bomb left a city and all mankind in rubble and ashes. Nothing is left but an empty house. All of humanity has become extinct because of technology. The house is programmed with technology it is controlling and protecting the house. Bradbury is warning us that technology can destroy us and nature if we don’t stop it.

Throughout the story the house fights to keep all nature out of the house. When a leaf would fall on the porch it is quickly discarded by the AI robots and burned in the incinerator. Bradbury says, “The offending dust, hair, or paper, seized in a miniature steel jaw…it was dropped into the sighing vent of an incinerator which sat like evil Baal in a dark corner”(pg. 2). Technology tries to do everything that it can to keep nature out.

The house begins to “die” at ten o’clock (Bradbury 2). A tree knocks over and crashes into the house, causing it to burn down. The house tries to fight back the fire but fails. The house’s robot mice attack the fire with water. As it happens these robots fight a natural source like fire. They were being sustained by a natural resource such as water. Technology’s battle against nature will always fail because it depends on natural resources and materials.

The house is used as a representation of a human body throughout the whole story it refers to the house as human. The house is consumed and unable to escape the strong fire. Bradbury states, “The pain of the house increases. It “shudders, oak bone on bone, its bare skeleton cringing,” and it screams “Fire!” All the voices in the house cry out until the fire reaches each one’s wiring and bursts their vocal mechanisms. The animals in the nursery’s moving fresco run away from the fire within the landscape.”(pg.5). The house is cringing as nature overpowers it. This is a vivid example of what the human bodies go through when an atomic bomb explodes. The technology is slowly melting and burning.

In the end, the sunrise is shown as a new beginning. There is a new day whether or not mankind is there. The house is completely destroyed in a pile of rubbish. The author states, “At dawn, as the sun rises over “heaped rubble and steam,” the clock cries out over the wreckage. It says, “Today is August 5, 2026, today is August 5, 2026, today is…”(pg.5). In other words nature will succeed where mankind and technology will fail to see a new day because they are all gone.

Throughout Bradbury’s story of nature vs. technology, human-like technology is in a constant battle.

The house is an example of how technology will try to control and destroy all of humanity and will do the same to nature. Although it is believed currently that technology will make our future better it may ruin it instead.

How Does Technology Affect Us: Critical Essay

Introduction

Technology plays a very important role in making our lives comfortable and easy. We use technology every day and everywhere in order to fulfill our needs and wants. The development of technologies, such as the broadband internet and the routinization of mobile phones, has helped people to communicate and connect with each other more easily by overcoming geographical conditions and time lags. Moreover, this technology penetrates into one of the most fundamental links of human beings, family relationships, and can be seen to have a great influence on the daily life and communication style of family members. As with other relationships, such as friendship, the use of sundry devices and software in a digital environment can help to improve communication among family members and help them to connect more uniformly. On the one hand, however, it has a potentially negative effect on family relationships.

The negative impact of technology on family life

The influences of popular culture and technology in teenager’s relationship have affected the divide between traditional roles that children and their parents play, at the same time, the same lines between parents and children is indistinct. This divide has increased because of the growing use of technology among kids. Mostly, children absorb technology by playing video games and sending and receiving messages with their friends or parents. Media is the most powerful force in young people’s lives. 8-18 years old children spend more time with media than in other activities. Media provides a lot of things to people that they need and want such as TV shows they watch, games they play, songs they listen to, books they read, and websites they visit. These are a broad part of their lives. The amount of time that both children and adults spend using media devices can help to indicate the role that media plays in family life. For mobile media, more than half of teenagers have their own mobile phone which is 66% of all 8 to 18 years old children. On average, 8 to 18 years old kids spend about 33 minutes talking on a mobile phone, and about an hour and a half sending and receiving text messages daily (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010, p. 18) For online media Hughes and Hans found that families with children are more likely to have computers and Internet access than those without children. On average, the amount of time 8- to 18-year-olds spend using the computer daily is about an hour and a half, excluding school work. Similar to television, computers and the Internet also have the potential for encouraging independence and singularity or being used as a means of socializing and connecting. One could say that although Facebook is considered “entertainment” it is also a means of social and communal activity. (1)

In America, the use of media has increased over the past 10 years. In the past 5 years, TV content has increased by 38 minutes, 47 minutes a day for music and other audio, for the computer 27 minutes has raised from the past 5 years, and increases 24 minutes a day for video games. During this time period, spending time on reading has reduced from 43 to 38 minutes, not a statistically important change. (2) This information is quite out of date however, many people are still spending a lot of time on social media, probably more recently. “Adolescents can see the impact of technologies on family dynamics as both positive and negative. Interestingly, the views of participants on these issues were similar around the world, suggesting there may be opportunities for countries to collaborate in creating solutions to support families in making effective use of technologies.” (3) There are some examples of adolescents’ opinions about the negative impact of digital devices

“I got on bad terms with my mom for spending too much time with digital devices and not spending enough time on school studies.” GIRL, 13, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

“I have argued with my family because I didn’t fulfill my responsibilities due to my distraction with the laptop.” GIRL, 14, URUGUAY

“When mum switches her computer on to work at home, she has no time to talk to us.” GIRL, 18, BURUNDI

“My family tends to spy on my private life through social media. In consequence, we fight over misunderstandings.” GIRL, 16, TUNISIA(4)

In order to reduce these problems parents and children have to make their own plans for the use of media. I think the media has to work for us and within the family values and parenting methods. When used appropriately, media can upgrade our daily life. Furthermore, setting limits for media will be very helpful. Like all other activities, digital device use should have reasonable limits.

The positive impact of technology on family life

The use of modern technology in our home is normally chosen to make life more comfortable, such as the use of a vacuum cleaner to clean the home quicker and a microwave is very useful for reheating cooked foods and cooking. There are technologies for entertainment, also. For instance, TV, gaming equipment, and computer. Technology and the internet at home allow family members to work flexibly within the workplace and work hours. Valkenburg’s study has shown that communication online in adolescents was linked with time spent with friends and the quality of these friendships positively. (5)

This chart shows that majorities (86%) of internet users in all countries surveyed say they stay in touch with friends and family online. Less common factors are commercial and career activities, such as searching or applying for a job, making or receiving payments, buying products online, and taking online classes. (6)

Technology provides huge benefits for families which cannot stay with family, especially at long distances. Video chat services can be important services for those families. For example, “FaceTime, Skype has advanced to the point where family members across the globe can connect on a daily basis.”

Most of the respondents think new communication technologies such as the internet and mobile phones influence the quality of communications with family, friends, and colleagues positively. The internet and phones have a good impact on the quality of communications with family members living elsewhere, and the smallest positive impact on work-related communications. Particularly, about half of the respondents in the survey think that new communication technologies have not had an impact on their communications with household members, family members elsewhere, friends, and co-workers. However, only a small percentage of adults feel that these technologies actually reduce the quality of their communications. (7)

Attewell, Suazo-Garcia, and Battle (2003), found in their study that young children who use computers at home scored higher on cognitive and self-esteem measures than children who did not use computers at home. (8)

Researchers found that electronic media, particularly video games, can enhance visual-spatial skills, such as visual tracking, mental rotation, and target localization. Gaming may also improve problem-solving skills (Schmidt & Vandewater, 2008, p. 63). (9)

This evidence is not very clear because they did not specify the researchers exactly and also it is quite out of date however, the study has done by experts. So, I think is pretty reliable.

Technology brings a lot of benefits to us, for example

“I think that the internet brought us closer to those who are far away and pulled us away from those who are close by. Within my family, there are times when we can all be in the same room without saying a single word because each of us is glued to the screen of our smartphone.” GIRL, 16, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

“My mom, she moved to Spain when I was a kid. I can share with her each moment that she or I live every day.” GIRL, 17, PARAGUAY

“Each time we find something interesting on social media it brings up a conversation.” GIRL, 16, TUNISIA(10)

Everything in the world has its advantages and disadvantages. I have chosen this topic, as it sounded very interesting to me. I also had a similar experience there were many times when family communication was cut off because of the mobile online and computer. However, because of the mobile, there were times when we had something to talk about.

When I was in Korea, I did not notice the necessity of mobile phones. After I have come to China, I realized that modern technology has brought a lot of benefits. When I miss my family members, I can call them through video chat services. I think it depends on how we use and where we use technology in real life. As I wrote this report, I learned how technology affects us once again and how other people think about the effects of technology.

Reference

  1. https://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=nyscaproceedings
  2. https://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/8010.pdf
  3. https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/SOWC_2017_ENG_WEB.pdf
  4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6453656_Preadolescents’_and_Adolescents’_Online_Communication_and_Their_Closeness_to_Friends
  5. https://www.pewglobal.org/2015/03/19/internet-seen-as-positive-influence-on-education-but-negative-influence-on-morality-in-emerging-and-developing-nations/
  6. https://www.pewinternet.org/2008/10/19/the-internet-cell-phones-and-family-communication/
  7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265582308_The_impact_of_technology_on_families
  8. https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/SOWC_2017_ENG_WEB.pdf

Is Modern Society Too Dependent on Technology: Essay

Our use of technology is becoming daily more essential and important to us, as most of our tasks are done using some type of technology that allows information to be more easily found and gathered. In a fast-running society like today, the use of technology may seem like the fastest and most efficient way to get things done, and to some extent, it is highly beneficial, but if it gets out of hand, this tool can do more harm than good for our development, as creativity is used is less and replaced by a Google search, and our brains get more use to the lack of concentration to be able to go from one place to another so easily, and our social skills are transferred to a screen.

Technology has greatly improved our society and led us to great advances in knowledge, and now allows us to perform tasks that we could not do before, such as turning off the lights without making any type of effort and just calling out “Alexa, turn off the lights”. Each advancement made in technology seems to take one less thing to do for our brains, but it might be here where the problem is found, as this mental effort is what allows us to learn rather than just memorize things for a small period of time, having an impact on how we learn and process information. Just as is stated by Nicholas Carrs in his ‘Does the Internet Make You Smarter or Dumber?’: “It is this control, this mental discipline, that we are at risk of losing as we spend even more time scanning and skimming online” .

As we grow to be more dependent on technology and with-it social media, not only the way we think is being changed through the process but also the way we connect socially, as the media allows us to communicate with others without actually speaking, changing the way we interact with each other.

To conclude, as technology advances, we grow to be more dependent on it as we get used to its utilities and advantages, to the point where we are depending on it way too much on a daily basis to do our jobs more efficiently, gather information and knowledge for educational purposes, communicating with the world around us, as well as saving our brains the effort. Therefore, to answer the question of whether modern society is too dependent on technology, I can say that yes, obviously.