Impact of Modern Technology

Our world is slowly moving toward a digital universe, but the rate at which this transformation is taking place is pretty amazing. From chatbots that use artificial intelligence to dating apps, technology has easily merged into our daily lives. We do our shopping, start and grow businesses, and spend our leisure time on online platforms, where we can also create lasting relationships.

According to Stats, by 2022, a shocking 66 percent of the global population will be active internet users, adding to the internet’s role in our lives. An important issue arises in the midst of this digital revolution: Can technology be an agent for improving our networking skills?

The technology industry grows at a rapid pace, with every innovator fighting for the top spot on the podium. Every day, new innovations are tested in an earnest drive to serve the public with tools designed to simplify our everyday routines. As older generations embrace technology more and more, especially with the setting of a worldwide pandemic, we are getting closer to a society in which digital platforms control every aspect of social interaction.

Should we, however, view the change as a positive or negative development? Will human interaction flourish or reduce as new communication technologies develop? This article goes into the benefits, negative aspects, and unvarnished facts of technology’s impact on social contact.

Positive Aspects:

Impact of modern technology is need of today’s world, the internet has greatly enhanced human communication. When compared to the pre-internet period, our connectivity has reached new levels. Here are multiple ways in which technology enhances social interaction.

Instant global communication

What impact does technology have on social media? It allows many of us to interact with people from all around the world in real time.

The days of waiting for the postman, so relying on messenger pigeons, or hoping for a message in a bottle are over—technology has removed the communication hurdles created by distance. This transition is often referred to as the globalization phenomenon.

Digital Connections

Let’s look at how impact of modern technology maintain relationships between people. Video calling apps like Skype and Zoom allow people to form feelings without being physically present in the same room. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic when families from various households had to keep physical distance.

Zoom recorded an incredible 2.13 million downloads worldwide on the day the UK lockdown was declared, an improvement from the 56,000 daily downloads just two months prior.

Dating on the internet

Advances in technology, most notably the growing popularity of online dating, have made easier the quest for love. Based on a recent survey, more than half of all couples will have met online by 2035.

Furthermore, the study discovered that 47% of people believe internet dating makes it easier to find love, particularly among the reserved.

Seamless Interaction

Consumers who would earlier have had limited social interactions now have the chance to join online communities. Those with disabilities may overcome physical limits in virtual game worlds, while those with anxiety about social settings can gain confidence by interacting online rather than in person.

Text-based interaction, as compared to in-person conversations, gives people more time to process information and craft responses. However, it is crucial to point out that this component of communication does not always produce favorable results.

Negative Aspects:

As is typically the case with any topic, there are many points of view to consider. How exactly can technology have an adverse effect on our social lives? Some claim the anonymity and less direct nature of Internet communication can lead to unintended consequences.

Deception is more likely behind the screens of smartphones and computer keyboards, especially among vulnerable people. Here are a few examples of how technology has a negative impact on social contact.

Reduced Human Interaction:

A growing number of people are using technology as their major means of communicating with family, friends, and colleagues. The COVID-19 lockdown, which forced millions of people to work remotely, expedited the use of internet communication tools, resulting in fewer in-person human interactions. By July 2020, digital channels would have accounted for 58% of all customer interactions.

With working from home becoming the new standard, transactional activities are becoming more automated via self-service machines. While this is helpful to many, it highlights the harmful impact of technology on our communication. Certain populations suffer by the seamless nature of technology-driven interactions. The increased reliance on technology for communication may contribute to an increase in isolation, especially among the elderly, who may rely on these transactional contacts as their primary form of social engagement.

Cyberbullying:

Technology has caused the rise of cyberbullying, making children especially susceptible to online harassment. While cyberbullying is still a major worry for children, it is also becoming more prevalent among adults. Based on the results of a recent YouGov study conducted,  half of adults had experienced cyberbullying.

With the scary rise in suicide rates among victims of cyberbullying, it is clear that technology does not always foster good social connections.

Digital Fraud:

The fraudulent act of believing a fake online persona with a view of influencing, monitoring, or hurting a specific individual is known as “catfishing.” This conduct has gained popularity on dating websites and other media networks, and it has even been included in a popular MTV reality television series.

According to the results of a 2018 survey, 9% of respondents confessed that falling victim to catfishing had an effect on their emotional condition.

Predator’s Paradise:

Technology additionally allows internet predators to target their victims. With UK schools closed during the COVID-19 lockdown, students spent more time on their devices and saw an enormous reduction in face-to-face social contact.

While there is no definitive evidence connecting the pandemic to an increase in online predatory behavior, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Kids (NCMEC) recorded a 106% rise in reports to its Cyberviolence during the pandemic’s early months.

Unpleasant Reality:

Whether we look at the impact of modern technology with optimism, negativity, or some combination of the two, it’s obvious that technology has completely changed the landscape of interaction. While it allows us to establish international connections quickly, it also puts us at risk of separation and introduces new types of harassment and abuse.

As new technologies develop, we can anticipate the creation of new cybersecurity laws as well as extra technical safety measures. However, it is critical to recognize that these measures may not protect everyone from the harmful impacts of technology.

Finally, it is our job to use the internet responsibly and morally. Equally important is our duty to find a balance between face-to-face human contact and our everyday digital interactions.