Despite using current day technology to enhance and better our lives, we are becoming enslaved to what some consider a new freedom, technology. It is evident that we indulge and need to have technology in the palm of our hands that provides entertainment, internet, games and social media. We are sadly passing up the real world to get that instant technology fix. We are in constant search for the next broadband connection to provide an easy fix of digital happiness while the real world passes us by.
Addiction to technology has become a driving force that has turned ordinary citizens into law breakers in states that banned the use of cell phones while driving. There are so many people texting while driving, and getting into accidents that there is now a call by the National Transportation Safety Board (in the US) to ban texting or the use of electronic devices while driving a vehicle.
Technology is also causing a new type of Digital Divide in the home; Individuals at every stage of their lives are now over exposed to technological gadgets that have taken the place of family time. Technology such as the Ipad is unashamedly used to babysit or pacify boisterous children from very young age. It’s so simple and easy-to-use games and video to entertain and engaging these little ones, who reciprocate with the need of a constant feed of entertainment, day and night. Try taking the iPad away from the kid and you’ll see what I mean. It’s no wonder that the iPad can easily be classified as a toy for this reason.
In all honesty we are prepping the younger generation to function better online than off. The day of social skills and human interaction is slowly slipping away. You may view this as a good thing, with the world getting smaller and tech tools getting more prevailing and everything, but in a world of Google our youths are not retaining knowledge in their heads, there is absolutely no need to be grammatically correct in text speak . Students are writing papers and using terms and acronyms found in the world of texting. As a former college level teacher I was surprised to find this practice happening in a very alarming rate. Well, social networks and texting has opened up a new can of worms.
Technology has made it so easy to post these bits and pieces of your life online that if you stumble upon anything worthy of posting, you’d drop everything and do it (I am guilty of this too). See a car accident, it goes online, see a funny person on a street corner I share it; see someone trying to jump off a building, posted.
Reality has somehow become a television show or a news report that you are detached from. You don’t stop to help the victim get out of the car, actually drop some coins into the beggar’s cup, or call the police to come stop the hopeless jumper. Nope, it’s all about accommodating these urges to have the post of the day.
Despite the gloomy outlook painted in this article, I’m sure that the technology that keeps us connected to the Internet has done much good for our lives. However, do remember who is in control and take that control. When your digital devices are taking up too much of your life, you know it’s time to switch it off and enjoy life unplugged. Go to the beach, enjoy your loved ones, and feel the reality…
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