As a college student, the impact technology has on my life is staggering. I wake up every morning to an alarm clock ring that is preprogrammed into my phone. I check the weather off an app to help me decide what clothes to wear for the day. My computer is brought with me everywhere. On my computer are my email, my classes, Netflix, Microsoft Word and countless other things. My life is essentially on that computer. The use of technology is supposed to make my life more efficient, but in reality, I think sometimes it seriously slows me down.
As a member of the social media generation, I am constantly checking in on my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat apps. I spend hours a week scrolling through feeds and checking statuses. By increasing connectivity and availability, I have slowed down my productivity. Even though I only check these apps for a few minutes at a time, I still check them often. Updates can occur every few minutes, so I have become glued to my phone for the fear of missing something.
My computer is no better for me. While a world of information is at my fingertips, that information includes thousands of sites that serve as distractions. As a member of both Netflix and HBO, I could easily spend weeks doing nothing but watching shows and movies. Having that amount of options is great, except when I need to be productive and a new series calls to me to start it.
In theory, having the ability to access anything at any time is great. It should make college better for students. We have an easier time doing research. We can hold group meetings over Skype and work on Google Docs together without ever actually meeting. We are so much more aware of the world around us. But in reality, we use technology to waste away time. We watch show after show, spend hours worrying about likes on social media. We have nearly forgotten how to make small talk and have meaningful conversations in person.
Don’t get me wrong—I think technology is a wonderful tool. The world is more connected than ever and information is available like never before, which makes being a college student that much easier. Brilliant minds have helped make the world a better place through the invention of technology.
But by technology bringing the world closer and groups of people together, has it torn individuals apart? Everything is more interconnected, but also less personal. Online postings are often generic, vague, and anonymous. Social media is a host for pictures and ideas of mass conformity. Supposedly, the Internet is a place where people are free to be themselves, but I believe the opposite has happened and everyone has conformed with one another since they are afraid to go against the majority that rules online.
People become a face in the crowd online, so when they have a conversation face-to-face, they can be at a loss. On an individual level, people are unsure of themselves and their relationships with others. As Albert Einstein said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” And that was during an era that seems primitive compared to today in the scope of technology. So what has the world come to now?
