Article

Drawbacks of technology

In a relatively short period of time, internet communication technology has changed the world in a
rapid fashion. In 1995 the idea of surfing the internet on a mobile cellphone the size of a business
card, with the processing power of an ordinary computer, was pretty much inconceivable to the
average consumer, today it is a common activity most of us indulge in on a regular basis. Much can
be said about the benefits and drawbacks of the increased availability of technology. Proponents
praise the increased opportunities it brings for connecting with relatives and friends, finding
information and making life easier. These are all good things supposedly, though, the list of
drawbacks the opposition offers is equally as long, if not longer. Highlighting some of these
drawbacks, it is questionable whether or not the increased availability of technology has led to more
freedom.

On the whole, our standards of living have risen and the replacement of manual labor by robots and
systems has increased the efficiency with which goods and services are provided, thus giving us more
free time to spend on social, intellectual and recreational pursuits. However, the prevalence of hours
spend idly by consumers on video games, network sites and online videos, makes it doubtful that the
increased availability of technology is good for society. While none of the above is bad in and by
itself, it can create problems if done abundantly.

Playing video games might lead to problems associated with addiction, social withdrawal, a
sedentary lifestyle and many more if done in excess. The same can be said for watching online videos
as a substitute for actual experience. Not to mention the decreased face-to-face time people have
when using online networks such as Facebook or Instagram. Both networks can lead to compulsive
validation or attention seeking behavior, which interferes with normal social functioning. It goes
without saying that none of the above is beneficial for a society and certainly does not promote
freedom.

The same can be said for supernormal stimuli such as internet porn. The availability of erotic content
has never been as abundant as today. The reward centers in our brains are not capable to deal with
this abundance and go into overdrive, thereby depleting important neurotransmitters such as
dopamine in the process, leading to increased depression and lack of motivation. Erectile dysfunction
is now a recognized problem in young and healthy subjects. Again, this leads to a host of other
problems such as social anxiety, withdrawal and depression which impede freedom and are not
beneficial to a society.

Proponents of technology and its development might point to increased availability of information
due to the internet. Naturally, this is a good thing, because it enables us to find solutions to problems
in our daily lives, get to know more about the world we live in, and find business opportunities where
none were there before. These are only a few of the benefits of increased access to information.
Indeed, certain individuals and companies thrive by using the internet. Take for example Vice,
Amazon, [Link] or Tim Ferris and Alex Jones. Though, again, disinformation is also abundant on the
internet. A critical eye is essential when sifting through the knowledge at our fingertips.
All in all it comes down to responsible consumption of the technology available to us. As with
everything, spending too much time in one area, might lead to the neglect of other areas. This is
applicable to the use of technology, and certainly one should think more about the impact
technology has on our society and think further on how increased use of technology might limit
personal freedom.

Globalisation
It’s that time of the year again when the keyboard warriors and self-proclaimed twitter journalists out
their frustration regarding the globalisation “issue”. Poorly constructed arguments, guesswork and a
few #hashtags are the norm. Such “journalism” is accessible, compact and it reminds us that you
should not believe everything you read on the internet.

Currently, we live in a world that is leaps and bound ahead of our ancestors. Throughout the centuries
new research has led to technological advancements in medicine, mass production, sustainable energy,
communication and education to name a few. These advancements were made because of
globalisation. Individuals from each nation shared their concepts, discoveries and views with the
world. This unselfishness made it possible for the human race to develop and evolve for the better.

History represents to what extent we have influenced the way we live. The world has seen some
incredible developments over the years such as the invention of the telephone and the internet. These
discoveries were not simply perceived and achieved within in week or so. It took years of research,
progress and hard work. Alexander Graham Bell is credited as the inventor of the telephone, but his
invention was based on what others had experimented with and discovered before him. It was not
technologically possible before his time and he built on what had already been accomplished.

The invention of the telephone was revolutionary as it brought the world closer together. Back then
only a select few were privileged enough to possess a telephone but nowadays, everyone has one.
Someone improved upon Bell’s research to create a handheld version of the telephone and after that
phones began to get compacter and more advanced. It is now 2017 and I presume that most are
reading this article on their phone, tablet or other handheld device that is a product of globalisation.

The telephone is mere one example of many that emphasises the importance of globalisation because
without it we would be deprived of several objects that we perceive to be important such as mobile
phones, tablets and laptops. In a world that has been revolutionised by globalisation it is clear that it is
all for one and one for all.