Eng110 the Negative / Positive Effects on Technology

Emely Cartagena

April 1, 2019

Eng110: Literature & Composition

Professor: Bhasin

                                The Negative / Positive Effects on Technology

Technology is now a big part of our society. It will be part of our future. There is very little room for people that wish to live without technology.  We live in a world where everything is modern and if you are not up to date you will be left behind. Technology affects people all over the world, both positively and negatively. I will focus on the negatively throughout the essay.  Technology is like a coin which has both positive and negative sides. I believe that for every benefit that technology has, it also brings us a disadvantage.

I do agree with the advances technology. It has created for us an easier and safer world. But to what cost? On the flip side of it people have let technology take over their lives affecting it in a negative way. I remember growing up; I did not have a computer or video games. We did not have social media. Our entertainment was going outside playing with friends, riding bikes, or just walking around. That’s what we called fun. Currently, in our new era fun is having a cell phone. Enjoying the latest games or staying home on the internet for hours.

Going to a restaurant and observing everyone at the table so focus on their cell phones. It proves that quality time with family at dinner has been lost. I personally have an agreement with my kids. No cell phone or electronics are allowed when we are spending time as a family. It creates a lack of communication when we allow technology into our family time.  We lose the opportunity to communicate with our children and find out what’s going on in their lives

 Some of the advances of technology that have positively helped us are online banking modern computers, smart TV’s and cell phones. Online shopping, transferring money even depositing your checks is advancements of technology.  We can nearly do anything with the new technologies from the comfort of our home. But, the same way it has positively helped; it has also negatively impacted us. Identity theft, hackers, cyber stalking are some of the examples of how technology can be negative. People have become lazy and do less communication with the real world. We don’t see kids going to the library. You now can read in ipads or download a book on your phone and read it at your convenience. The tradition of going to the library has been lost. This was a way of people to interact and talk about similar books they have read. Or even give advice as to what book was good to read. Now all you have to do is Google a book and read the reviews.

Bicycles have been replaced by electric bikes. Roller-skates have been replaced with electric motorized skates. Yes, they’re fun; can’t argue with that! However, they are making people more inactive.  Technology has affected health through causing obesity. People spend more time on non-physical activities vs. physical activities. Society has gotten lazy.  An inactive lifestyle has major negative health consequences. People are slowly forgetting that physical activity is an important part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  Therefore, advances in technology are having negative effects on our health.

Deresiewicz claims that technology has impacted us in a negative way. The words he used to describe the effects that technology has on our society are “terrified”, “alone”, “powerless”. (Dersiewicz) Sherry Turkle says, “No matter how valuable technology is they do not substitute the conversation”.  (Turkle) There is nothing more accomplishing and satisfying than to have a face to face conversation. You are interacting and engaging in actual conversation rather than using technology. Online interactions take away certain face to face social aspects like body language, which sometimes make it harder to understand the meaning of what has been said. People are becoming more detached from the reality. You do not have to be antisocial, but at some point, these social networks seem to overcome friends or school colleagues. This is probably the one and only disadvantage of social networks though. It is, indeed, nice to meet new people, but how about going out and meeting new people. Social networking on the internet is another factor that has changed social interactions greatly. Physical interactions are crucial to the human health as it facilitates and creates social relationships.  Although social networking is also a way of communicating with your loved ones you can’t see on a daily basis. I had recent experience with social networking as I was recently reconnected with a long lost part of my childhood, a guy that is like an older brother to me. It all depends on how you use technology in this day and age. I personally agree with Sherry I am all about the face to face communication and engaging with others. Not allowing social networking to take an advantage in our lives.