Blog Post 11: Final Post

Final Post: Is Technology Healthy?

Technology is a big part of our lives and has changed the way we live. As a college student, I use technology every day, and it’s something we’ve all learned to adapt to. There is a controversial question about whether technology is healthy for us or not. Some people think it’s improving the world, while others believe it’s having negative effects. After researching both sides, I think technology is having a positive and negative impact on our lives. On one hand, it keeps us connected to the world by providing real time updates and news, but it can also be misleading. Now, I will go into the different sides, and how it impacts society as a whole.

 

Screen Time

Before I checked my screen time usage, I thought my relationship with technology was healthy. But after seeing how much time I spend on my devices, I’m rethinking my habits. Technology has always been a part of my life; it’s what my generation grew up with. Unlike my parents, who witnessed the evolution of technology from no devices to the latest technology innovations, I’ve only known a world with constant access to technology. When it comes to defining a healthy relationship with technology, it’s less about the amount of time we spend on it and more about how we use it. As Britt Frank points out, “Implementing screen time boundaries helps us harness the power of technology without mindlessly scrolling.” Setting boundaries and being aware of how we are using technology can help us regain control over our digital lives. Personally, I feel that technology is taking up too much of my time. I spend a lot of it on social media, but often, I do so without thinking. I find myself opening apps out of habit, not purpose. 

Is technology reliable? 

Technology is both informative and misleading. Technology is efficient and helps us get information fast. Without it, we would be dependent on slower forms of information, like newspapers, which are far less convenient. However, technology can also be misleading. The internet is surrounded with fake news, biased reporting, and misinformation. According to University of Derby magazine they state,  “When sharing news, people often don’t stop and think about whether the article could be fake and, in an age of instant internet access and social media platforms, news is shared to millions at the touch of a button.” The content we see online shapes our perspectives, especially when it comes to topics like politics. Online, we see how politics are often shaped. Propaganda and fake news are everywhere, and technology helps spread them. 

Society

Technology is just an accepted part of society that we live in. Sometimes, I find myself wondering, Where would we be if technology had never been invented? How would my life be different if technology took a completely different form? What if AI had never been created? As I think about how AI is developing, I wonder what the future will look like as it continues to evolve. According to Brittanica, Ai is “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.” AI is quickly becoming a big part of society, and many worry it could take away jobs and change how we live. But as the years go on, everything is evolving. That’s the nature of technology, it’s constantly changing. As it improves, we adapt to it. As an 18 year old, I’ve grown up with fast paced change in technology, so it feels normal to me. But for those who lived without technology, the adjustment is much more challenging, as they now see the world from a completely different perspective.

Friends and Family

My friends and family are both positively and negatively affected by technology. For example, my mom is very focused on technology and social media, while my dad doesn't use any social media at all. On the other hand, I see how my friends are always utilizing technology. Some can’t go even 20 minutes without checking it. Social media has a significant impact on mental health, and it can have severe consequences. It sets unrealistic expectations, especially for young people, and particularly for young girls. These unrealistic standards can lead to mental health struggles and, in some cases, even suicide. As Elias Balt states, “Research from the US suggests that an increase in suicidal behaviors among adolescents may be partly attributed to an increase in new media screen time.” The effects of technology on young people’s lives have a significant impact. For girls, what they see online can deeply influence their self image, leading them to want to change their appearance. When they can’t meet these expectations, it takes a toll on their mental health. Social media changes how we see reality, setting unrealistic standards for how we look and behave.

Online Footprint

Our online footprints follow us throughout our lives. Once something is posted, it’s out there forever. Online footprints can be collected without us even knowing. According to Kaspersky, they state, "Once you allow an organization to access your information, they could sell or share your data with third parties." We create online footprints with every click we do on the internet. What we put on social media creates an online footprint that will always be in the internet. Personally, I keep all my social media accounts private to maintain control over who sees what I share. I aim to keep a positive online presence. When I Google myself, the only result is my volleyball athletic profile, nothing else comes up, which helps create a positive image. My athletic profile showcases my skills and achievements, which could be useful for potential employers. I don’t think I need to edit anything about my online presence since I keep it professional and positive. I avoid sharing personal views online because they can be judged or misunderstood, especially if others don’t share the same opinions. In today’s world, what we say online can shape how people perceive us, so I prefer to keep my personal views private.

Blog Post 10: Antiwar

 Antiwar

Exploring the two websites, Antiwar.com and The American Conservative, I saw media that I have never seen before. I think this is because they have such strong voices and the media tends to keep things more neutral because of how sensitive society has gotten. I feel that in order to get reliable information, in depth research is needed to be able to get the full story. These websites show the depth of current issues that we are facing today. 

I want to focus on one article from The American Conservative. In the article, “Whither the Department of Education?” by Peter Van Buren, he talks about the future of the Department of Education (DOE). He discusses people like Trump, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy wanting to get rid of it. The article explains that the DOE doesn’t directly choose textbooks or hire teachers, but it helps fund schools and enforces policies, like making sure schools follow Title IX rules. The article states, “the Secretary of the Treasury would make allocations to states to support elementary and secondary education, including career and technical education, based on the number of kids enrolled in public, private, and home schools.” 

This means the Secretary of the Treasury would give money to states for education based on how many students are enrolled in public, private, and homeschooling. The money would help pay for regular school programs as well as career and technical education. From this, I believe the money for education would be shared fairly based on how many students there are, no matter what kind of school they go to. This could make sure all students get the support they need.

According to Buren, “Project 2025 also gets into more “philosophical” areas, redefining sex in strictly biological terms for Title IX purposes, eliminating any benefits based on race, and establishing a Parental Bill of Rights for Education.” Some people believe the DOE has grown too big and want to move its responsibilities to other government departments. Trump and Project 2025 want to give parents more control over their kids' education with "Education Savings Accounts" and reduce the government’s role in schools. I can see how this might make things simpler, but I’m also concerned it could hurt education, especially for the students that come from lower income families. What I am wondering is whether getting rid of the Department of Education would help or hurt schools. 

After reading the articles, I think I have to find obscure websites to hear strong antiwar voices because mainstream media usually supports the government’s decisions. The government has a lot of control over the media, so I think the news promotes pro war views. Antiwar voices that challenge this don’t get as much attention, which is why websites like Antiwar.com are harder to find. They offer different opinions that mainstream media doesn’t usually share.

I believe that there needs to be more attention on these websites because they are very informative. I enjoyed exploring these websites because they gave insights and point of views on things that I have never seen before. These websites gave facts and harsh truths, while also not sugar coating any of the information they were giving. There needs to be more of these resources.