We have had the technology since the very beginning but only in recent times, we have started to pay more attention to it. Even earlier technology made our life simpler, but only in the last few years, we are able to experience drastic changes. This has made technology one of the most discussed topics. Today we will look at the effects that technology is having on our society. So, let’s begin with an example. In terms of learning, we have seen transformational changes with the introduction of modern technology.
It has changed the way we interact in our society. Previously, due to several barriers, our learning was confined to only accessible sources. Now, with modern technology, we have information at our fingertips, increasing our interactions with society.
Quick Answer: How Technology Affects the Society
Technology significantly influences society by enhancing communication, improving access to information, and fostering economic growth. On the other hand, it can also lead to issues like job displacement due to automation and increased screen time impacting mental health. So, balancing these positive advancements with potential negative impacts is a critical societal challenge. That’s how technology mainly affects society.
Technology in different sectors of Society
We develop new technologies with the intention of fulfilling the needs of our society. And, if you observe, you will realize that technology and society are dependent on each other for progress. Technology is developed based on the changing needs of society. Whereas, when technology is developed, there are changes in society.
There is no end to this cycle, and we will keep developing technologies based on the changing social needs, which, in turn, will change the way society behaves. To understand how technology affects society, let’s look at different sectors.
Health & Wellness
In this technological era, it has become easier for us to take care of our health. We have technology that helps us to keep track of our health so that we can prevent potential health risks. It provides us with health monitoring systems that come with additional features such as notifications and reminders to keep us up to date.
Along with our physical health, it is also important to take care of our mental health. In the past, mental health wasn’t taken seriously, only in recent times we have understood its importance and the impact it has on our quality of life. Technology provides us with cognitive stimulation to improve our mental health and wellness.
Learning & Education
We have mentioned in the beginning how technology has transformed our learning experience. Now, let’s discuss this in detail. Today we have access to a lot of information and over time we will only get to learn more. But this was not always the case. Sometimes, the lessons used to be quite boring because it was mostly theoretical and less practical. Technology provided a solution to this problem.
It has made the learning experience collaborative and interactive. We have online educational tools that interact with the students to capture their attention and teach them new concepts in an engaging and fun way. Wouldn’t you want your kids to understand what they learn and get value out of it? You no longer have to worry about it. Technology like AR can involve them in the learning process to teach them better.
Justice & Governance
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to minimize physical interactions and look for online alternatives instead. The justice and governance sector is no exception here. The sector is now conducting court sessions through online modes like video conferencing. Even the pleadings are filed before the court in digital format. In fact, this trend is only going to rise, and more technology will be adopted over time.
Communications & Media
You all can relate to the effect of technology on communications and media more as you are involved with it on a daily basis. Which is your most likely source for getting news, newspapers, or online platforms? We live in social media times, where we get news faster than we ever did. Also, we just don’t get news quicker, we can connect more using these platforms.
If something wrong happens to some part of the world, there are supporters who try their best to help them. If it was not for social networking sites, we would have stayed disconnected, unaware of such incidents. Thanks to technology, the time of ignorance has gone by, and now we are well-informed.
Impact of Technology on Society
We have many sectors in our society, among which we have looked at a few of them to see the effect of technology. Now let’s look at the positive as well as negative impacts of technology on our society.
If you prefer a visual guide, take a look at this video –
Positive Impact
With the help of technology, we are now able to solve most of our problems. Our population is growing and with the technology available to us, we are able to feed and take care of them. It has helped us to connect with people all around the world. We have the means now to understand others.
Back then, when people traveled and made new connections, they faced the problem of maintaining contact. But, with technology, we can stay in touch with almost anyone we want to by using online platforms.
Fast And Easy Transportation
Moving from one place to another requires a lot of effort. But technology has made it way easier to travel with the help of speedy and smart vehicles, such as bullet trains, jets, etc. And the best part is we are continuously growing and improving. It is becoming easier and faster to travel, no matter which transportation system we are using.
Also, you do not even have to purchase your own vehicle anymore to travel as there is public transport available and reliable taxi services, such as Uber, Lyft, etc., that provide affordable transportation services. And now, we are moving towards self-driving vehicles that will allow us to continue working even while traveling, saving our valuable time.
Online Banking
Online banking has made things a lot easier for society. Financial tracking applications allow us to keep track of our money and transactions. We can also make online transactions that are hassle-free and completely safe.
Although you must follow the banking guidelines in order to make sure you do not get attacked by hackers, it is still safer than keeping your money at your home, where it does not get the same protection as it gets in a bank.
But apart from this little hesitation among banking users, the benefits of online banking are countless. You get major convenience and minimum security problems. It makes managing your finances a lot easier and more efficient than ever.
Negative Impact
Hands down, technology is more beneficial to us than it can be harmful. But again it depends on how technology is used. The same platform that can create awareness in our society when used by wrongdoers can become a means of spreading misinformation.
Everything shared on digital platforms has consequences and can be used to manipulate society. You can see the negative impact of technology on every sector of society, from health to politics.
Also, we are experiencing a decline in manual skills as technology is adopted more. It doesn’t imply that automation is not good, it’s just that we still need manual skills till technology can be adopted on a wider scale.
Mental Health Issues
Without a doubt, technology has made the world a far better place than it was. It has made more people educated and aware of their own self and the environment around them.
However, its wrong use has had an adverse impact on the mental health of users. One of the major mental health problems that technology leads to is depression. Getting addicted to the gadgets in our hands and not caring about the real world around us make us feel isolated, sad, and lonely.
Social media apps like Instagram make people feel jealous of each other as they feel they do not have enough resources compared to the other person.
Privacy and Security
The Internet is not a safe place at all. Every day new accounts are being hacked, new websites are being taken down, and money is getting robbed. We need to be aware of the information we are sharing on the Internet as it is not too difficult for the wrong people to get their hands on it.
If someone gets their hands on your personal information, you can get harassed and blackmailed. Make sure you don’t post anything recklessly that may lead to trouble for you in the future.
Here is a table summarizing the positive and negative effects of technology on our society:
| Aspect | Benefit or Challenge | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Benefit | Swift and efficient travel enabled by technological advancements. |
| Online Banking | Benefit | Simplified, secure, and speedy financial transactions. |
| Mental Health | Challenge | Increased instances of depression and isolation due to over-reliance on technology. |
| Privacy | Challenge | Elevated risks associated with data breaches and privacy invasion. |
Conclusion
Technology is an integral part of our society. We won’t be able to perform our daily activities if we can no longer have them. There will be negative impacts along with positive ones.
But, how we control them will make a difference. Technology has changed the way we act in our society. And, this change is continuous. We will keep developing new technologies to simplify our lives further, but we must ensure that safety and security should be first priority, and it should never be compromised.