By Declan McDonald December 29 at 8:00 PM
We use technology to advance medical practices, transportation, and even planning out our schedules. These tools help us however, we are losing some of the most interpersonal and human aspects that create our identity and being. These aspects give us value and meaning that objects and materialistic goods cannot satisfy our needs such as human interaction. Humans have improperly used technology with methods of laziness and selfishness. 
Our world has experienced some of the best and worst times with technology. Despite its advantages, people have misused the good that can come out of it. There are several problems that people create with technology; a person’s message is not interpreted correctly, there are less personable experiences among others, people avoid being with people, it has become expensive, and there can be less room for more diverse thinking and relationships. I have experienced this first hand with online interactions in many cases with things such as lack of punctuation, poor context, and timing. I have often been forced to reiterate and explain what I mean with certain messages because without body language, and face-to-face interactions, it can be difficult to express what I’m our trying to say. If a text does not make sense to its recipient, a second conversation must be had, and this can delay sometimes urgent timing. We have become so reliant on technology and our phones that we no longer know how to connect with people.
We are now beginning to wonder how technology is overwhelming our lives and taking control, yet in many instances, we are the ones who are abiding by these devices. There is no longer a want or desire to speak with one another, it has become all about the easiness of working with people without meeting them face to face.
Many people will argue this and find technology to be a tool to enhance communication and a person’s use of it. I continue to disagree based on what I have experienced, seen with others and my own personal use. With my family overseas, it is difficult to consistently connect with them and when I do, it is usually over text and even factors such as time changes make it hard for effective communication. Studies show that 7% of communication is based on verbal or written word and 93% is based on our body language (Tardanico 2012). Technology promotes great opportunities and leads into what could become efficient communication, but people do not effectively use technology and phones to fulfill their purpose. One may argue that people using technology can speak and be heard, create their own voice and identity, or communicate with those far away. These advantages are true, but the context of our actions is what defines technology’s role in our society. People are misusing technology and stepping outside of the boundaries that make human interaction possible.
A common argument talks about how people can use technology to reach others in various parts of the world that we would not be able to speak with. There is no denying that technology makes this possible, yet from what I have experienced there is no true relationship from this. Without face to face interaction, it is very difficult for people to know and understand one’s identity and emotions. According to commonsensemedia.org, 34 percent of teens agree that using social media takes away from time that they could be spending with people face-to-face, and 44 percent agree that social media distracts them from the people they are with in person (Feliciano 2015). These devices are meant to make communication easier yet in turn, it can create an opposite outcome. Our society feels as if we don’t need this aspect of life but without it we are vulnerable to becoming more alone then we were before.
Others will argue that communication has become so much faster and more efficient, but it comes at the cost of our language and emotion. Something as simple as auto correct takes away effort needed to think about our messaging and ideas that we convey to someone. Not to mention the confusion that can arise when a recipient does not understand things such as sarcasm. In studies done by Monica A. Riordan and Lauren A. Trichtinger, these researchers conducted experiences to find out the effects of contextual information and the accuracy of affective communication (Nauert). These studies showed that participants had difficulty detecting emotions in messages, regardless of whether the sender was a friend or stranger (Nauert). The same results were found the even when clues like emoticons, multiple exclamation points, or all caps were used (Nauert).
Generations of kids from now on will-fully indulge their lives within technology. Technology is even becoming part of the classroom and learning tools. Students may not be as inclined to reach out to other peers and their teachers will become replaceable. One of the most important factors of school is our social ability, and learning to work with others and create relationships. School now is very different from when I started, and it can be much more helpful on a technical basis, but not towards the essential elements of human beings. Cons of technology in a classroom are plagiarism, lack of privacy, teachers become replaceable, causes distractions, and not all students have the same access to technology (Ronan 2017).
In today’s world it has become easy to blame technology and all the harm that it causes with people’s information or taking over someone’s life with devices. We are abusing and taking advantage of the power that comes with technology. It can be great value to our society, but we must be able to balance out the different aspects of life. Our lives can’t be overwhelmed by technology, because we are social creatures meant to interact.
References
Feliciano, Z. (2015, August 20). Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills? Retrieved January 02, 2018, from http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
Ronan, A. (2016, August 31). Difficult to Communicate Emotions in Email/Text. Retrieved January 02, 2018, from https://psychcentral.com/news/2016/08/31/difficult-to-communicate-emotions-in-emailtext/109296.html
Tardanico, S. (2014, April 15). Is Social Media Sabotaging Real Communication? Retrieved January 02, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/susantardanico/2012/04/30/is-social-media-sabotaging-real-communication/#5656940a2b62