Google, texting, facebook, and multitasking has led us to this. The third and final post is this series about my take on the digital age. Our brains have been affected because we multitask. But the real question here is do we multitask in order to adapt to the change in our society, or has society changed in order to adapt to our multitasking? I think it's a little of both, leaning more towards society adapting to us because technology has increased.
We enjoy listening to music, and the invention of the MP3 players and iPods have made that activity much more convenient for us to do. Smaller devices than a portable CD players (remember those?) and they hold more music than CDs. Yes, they still exist, but for how long? No one knows. So we take these iPods, and we're on the go, distracted from the world around us in our own music universe. Blackberries, Droids, iPhones and other smart phones have allowed for email, facebook, and twitter apps, connecting us to the entire world with one device small enough to carry in our pocket. Work emails can be answered at home, on the train (if you're my dad) or while your out to dinner. ANYWHERE!
This increased technology has its advantages no doubt, but its still unhealthy for us, individually and as a society. Keep in mind that I do have a blackberry with all previously mentioned apps installed. But it's unhealthy and sometimes pointless. Is it necessary to take a picture of your dinner? Absolutely not, but we do it. I tweet a lot, and I realize that most of what I tweet is probably pointless. But I have twitter because it's a great way to connect with people all over the world. And being a broadcast major, is there a better way to get your work out there for people to notice? That's my justification. But we are constantly connected to everyone we want to be! There is absolutely no way for us to be "unavailable."
And this technology is going to continue to grow, and we're going to continue to adapt to it. It's inevitable, but I don't think it's for the best. The convenience of the text message refrains us from picking up the phone to chat or walking to the next room to ask the question. Technology has yet to be able to show emotion and personality. When we're texting people are we really "communicating"? No because a majority of our communication comes in a nonverbal fashion. Texting cannot pick up on our body language, looks, tone of voice, etc. By texting, we depersonalize ourselves. We don't connect; we just share thoughts in 160 characters or less.
As this technology grows, so will our use of it. I imagine there will come a time when we won't even have to pull out our phone for texting or updating facebook. That's right, bluetooth texting. And at that point, is it even worth it? Because that's just like a conversation. But that's the parity in our society. We talk but don't communicate. We live in an individualist society and increased technology will distance us even more. And the problem is that humans, by nature, need companionship. To seek friendship one of our five natural inclinations according to Aquinas. Luckily technology won't turn us into robots because one thing it cannot take away from us is emotion.
Be conscious of this. Stay true to yourself. I realize that this opinion of my is extreme. But I believe that true friendship is vital in growing as a person. And true friendship cannot be achieved through texting or facebook, only through face to face encounters. I'm not saying avoid and boycott this increased technology, because there's really no hiding from it. But step away from it every once in a while. Enjoy the company your with and don't worry about the world. Live in the moment.
"Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons." - R. Buckminster Fuller
As promised, here are links to articles and the documentary that helped formulate my opinion on this topic:
Newsweek: The Dumbest Generation: Don't Be Dumb
The Atlantic: Is Google Making Us Stupid?
The Impact of the Internet on Thinking
PBS Frontline's Digital Nation
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