Is Society Too Dependent on Technology? Essay Example

Is society too dependent on technology? Well, this question elicits a lot of reactions. But the right answer may not be as subtle as you may think. Human societies have been dependent on technology for a long time. In fact, some civilizations were built with the help of technology. For the longest time, humans have been seeking ways to make their work easier. The cars, internet, computers, airplanes, machines and communication tools that are presently used are a testimony to that.

Technology has indeed brought good tidings. Tasks can now be done easily, swiftly and accurately. What was unimaginable some time back is an everyday reality in present time. Technology has led to discoveries in life. But even with this glamor, theres a twist to it. As the use of various technological devices increases, technology becomes more ingrained in peoples lives. It has integrated itself into the day to day activities such that they are norms.

Individuals may not realize this, but technology controls major aspects of their lives. Most people will even fear the thought of living without some basic forms of technology that they brush off easily as basic. To illustrate: How many people would go for a week without their cell phones? How many people would be comfortable for a week without an internet connection? How many motorists can endure weeks without their cars? Would entertainment be the same for people without their televisions or computers? The premise here is that most people may get inconvenienced when some technology they are accustomed to has been withdrawn.

Sadly, technology has changed the social lives of people. Gone are the days when one could have a fruitful face to face conversation just to socialize. You would be surprised socializing has a new connotation in the era of technology. It presently refers to the social media activity of individuals on the various online social networks. The more friends on your friend list, the more social you are; bearing in mind that you may not even know all of the people in your friend list. Physical interactions are now old-fashioned. Why would anyone want to meet while after all, they could just call, text or video call one another?

For those who are frequently involved in research, how many can still do it presently without the internet? This is not an argument against using the internet as a source of resource material. However, the overdependence of people on the internet has made them slack in their research skills. Instead of ransacking through volumes of books, articles, and journals, we fish out our mobile devices, laptops, and iPads and Google instantly becomes our friend. It may seem a convenience that moment, but as time passes, we become dependent on them.

Society benefits and progresses when it embraces technology. We can point out numerous instances of how society has improved with technology. Take the aspect of telecommunications. If we need instant communication or may have to convey an urgent message, a cell phone may come in handy. It may also prove to be life-saving during times of emergencies.

An automobile can be used to travel long distances and may also provide convenience when other modes of transport are ineffective. Having a collection of electronic books may be considered practical instead of having to carry physical books every time you need to research. Technology in itself is not bad and there are no qualms about it. What comes into contention is how we use it. Indeed, society has to rely on technology for certain activities. But theres a thin line between relying and becoming too dependent on it. A good position would be that society is leaning towards over-relying on technology. It is not too dependent on it.