Technology is controlling more and more aspects of our lives.
Today, over 90% of Americans have internet access, and there are almost 600,000 tech companies in the US. This number is only increasing as entrepreneurs are founding new startups.
However, is technology really good for us? How does it impact society as a whole? How does it benefit business owners and entrepreneurs?
In this article, we are going to answer all of those questions by discussing the pros and cons of technology. We will also provide some tips on how to make the most of it without letting its adverse effects ruin you.
Let’s get into it.
Pros of Technology – How Does It Improve Our Lives?
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First, let’s discuss the positive impact technology has on our everyday lives. Technology has made life a lot easier for many people – most of us can’t imagine a life without the technology we have today.
1. Facilitates Communication
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One of the most significant ways technology has changed our lives – and continues to change our lives – is the way it facilitates communication between individuals, groups, and businesses.
Think back to before technology existed. Humans communicated via speech, but at a distance, we were forced to rely on methods such as letters, pigeon messengers, fire and smoke signals, and other ineffective methods that took a long time.
Eventually, new technology, such as the telegram and the telephone, allowed humans to communicate quickly over large distances. With the introduction of radio, humans could also broadcast messages to large groups of people at a time.
Nowadays, we have mobile phones that allow us to talk to others from virtually anywhere in the world (as long as there is a cellular signal). We can also send messages, and we often expect the recipients to receive them immediately.
Social media allows us to stay in touch with family and friends without talking to them on a daily basis. In the past, you would have no way of knowing what was going on in a relative’s life unless you saw them frequently or sent letters regularly; nowadays, we are used to watching each other’s stories on social media.
Technology also allows businesses to communicate with each other, employees, and customers via email, social media, online groups, and more. There’s no denying that technology has made us more interconnected than ever before.
2. Improves Access to Information
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Technology has also given us access to a vast wealth of information. No longer do we have to travel to the library and search for books to find information; you have dozens of libraries at your fingertips.
Regardless of which topic you are researching, you can find blog posts, newspaper articles, scholarly journals, research papers, videos, audiobooks, ebooks, and more by just swiping on your screen. Whenever you have a question, you can just type it in and get an instant answer.
We can also get updated information – in real time – about unfolding events by watching live streams on our phones or checking updates on Twitter.
This wealth of information empowers us to make better choices in life and makes us smarter.
3. Increases Productivity and Saves Time
Technology also increases productivity, both in our personal lives and in business. For example, we can use a calculator to calculate complex mathematical equations without spending time writing it all down on paper; you can even get a calculator on your phone.
Businesses can use automation to save time, get more things done, and increase profits.
4. Creates New Earning Opportunities
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Technology has created so many new jobs, not only in the tech sector but in all sectors. It also gives people better access to earning opportunities – people can do all sorts of work from their laptops.
It also helps people find jobs. No longer do you have to browse the classifieds section of your local newspaper and check the “Help Wanted” page to find employment.
Nowadays, you can access thousands of jobs within an instant and apply to dozens of them using online resumes and automated applications.
Technology has also given many people the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. From stay-at-home mommy bloggers to software startups, technology provides us with a way to achieve financial freedom and get ahead in life.
5. Increases Efficiency in All Aspects of Life
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Despite the potential drawbacks of technology, most people will agree that it has also made our lives a lot more efficient.
For example, GPS systems allow us to quickly get to our destinations without scrutinizing a physical map and asking for directions. If you want to get from place A to place B without a car, you can simply order an Uber on your phone, get picked up from wherever you want, and get dropped off – with payment being automatically charged to your card.
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Mobile payment systems allow us to send cash to friends or pay in-store using QR codes and payment apps like Apple Pay.
Delivery apps allow us to order groceries or food from the comfort of our homes without calling anyone, driving to the store, or handling cash. Online marketplaces like Amazon allow us to browse a wide range of products and have them delivered to our doors in as little as 24–48 hours.
If we need a doctor, lawyer, or another professional, we can find them online and even book appointments using apps like Zocdoc.
Technology has changed our lives in so many ways. Even though most people don’t think about it, could you imagine living just 20 years ago, before the advent of mobile smartphones?
Now imagine going back 50 years or 100 years. Life would be so different that many of us would struggle to adapt.
6. Keeps People Busy
Finally, technology helps keep us busy. If you have extra time on your hands, you don’t have to sit around doing nothing.
You can study online, watch an educational video, or binge on Netflix. You’ll never get bored if you have a smartphone and an active internet connection.
Cons of Technology – The Dark Side
Technology is a double-edged sword. Many of the good things about technology can also ruin our lives – here are the cons of technology for individuals and businesses.
1. Can Be a Distraction From What Really Matters
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Technology is often a distraction. Instead of enjoying time with family or friends, we might get lost in our phones, mindlessly browsing Instagram, other social media sites, or YouTube.
Instead of focusing on work or our studies and getting things done, we might stay in bed watching clips on TikTok. Technology can be a significant distraction from the important things in life, so it’s important to be mindful of that and ensure that you are using technology to be productive and not the other way around.
2. Increases Risk of Theft
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Technology has made it so much easier to steal and rob people. You don’t have to commit theft in person anymore; you can do so while hiding in a basement.
You can even rob someone from a faraway country, drastically decreasing the risk of repercussions.
Cyber theft is a major concern. People can hack phones, steal credit card and banking information, and drain online accounts within seconds if they have the know-how.
Often, trying to get your money back is futile, as the scammers or criminals are located in far-off countries where law enforcement is corrupt or has inadequate resources.
The risk of cybercrime means that businesses and individuals must stay vigilant at all times. You can never let your guard down; you must invest in software and technology to protect yourself and the data of your clients.
3. AI Can Replace Humans and Destroy Jobs
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While technology has led to the creation of many jobs, it is also destroying others. Artificial intelligence is overtaking some traditional jobs that used to require humans.
There is a lot of talk about robots destroying the livelihoods of people and replacing humans. It’s already happening, and as AI gets more advanced, we can only expect it to put more people out of work.
4. Can Make People Overly Dependent
I mentioned how technology changed our lives so much that most of us would find it difficult to adapt to another way of life. That’s not a good thing – we must not allow ourselves to become overly reliant on technology.
For example, if there’s a blackout, would you go crazy because you can’t charge your phone? You might have no idea what to do with yourself if you’re not used to reading books.
What if there is some sort of disaster or power grid attack? Would you be able to survive without social media, Google, Uber, and all the other apps you use to navigate your everyday life?
While we can and should use technology to save time, be more efficient, and make our lives easier, we should also recognize the need to retain the capability to operate without technology.
5. Can Cause Social Isolation
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While technology has made us all more interconnected than ever before, it can also cause extreme social isolation and loneliness. It seems paradoxical, but many people struggle more than before with feelings of being alone, despite – and perhaps because of – technology.
It’s a lot easier for many people to stay at home and play video games, for example, instead of going out and socializing, especially if they suffer from social anxiety. In the past, there might not have been much to do at home, but video games can be fun and addicting.
There’s also Netflix, YouTube, and other time-wasting pastimes. People stay up late at night browsing social media aimlessly, watching their friends seemingly having fun going out to clubs without them.
Social media and technology allow us to present an altered reality of our everyday lives. We might be unhappy and lonely while posting stories that make us look like we are living glamorous lives.
When other people see that, they become jealous and think they’re the only ones at home bored. This creates an endless cycle that perpetuates itself.
Social media exacerbates feelings of loneliness – in the past, it was a lot easier to lose yourself in a book and have a quiet night to yourself without worrying about what other people are doing or feeling like you are missing out.
There are other ways that technology creates loneliness. Social media is addicting – we post stories and pictures because we enjoy getting those little notifications that tell us people have liked our posts.
We seek validation through social media. Someone might post a picture of themselves and anxiously await the likes – and if they don’t come, they might start feeling lonely and depressed.
This kind of weird alternate reality never existed in the past, and it’s a real danger of technology.
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Dating apps are also great examples of how technology can make us more interconnected and socially isolated at the same time.
On the one hand, dating apps seem like a fantastic invention. You can now meet people you would never have a chance to meet otherwise, broadening your romantic possibilities not just with people in your city but even with people in other cities and countries on the other side of the world.
At the same time, it has caused many people to shy away from going out and meeting people the old-fashioned way and establishing genuine relationships that are based on real human communication. It’s a lot easier to chat on a dating app with someone you don’t even know is real.
Furthermore, many people continuously swipe but never get the matches they expect, causing them to lose self-esteem and start feeling unworthy of love.
It’s important to realize the limitations of technology and that it can’t truly replace authentic human interaction and treat it accordingly. If you are unable to see a relative in person, you can video chat with them, but you can’t let technology prevent you from talking to people face to face when possible.
6. Reduces Creativity and Critical Thinking
Technology allows us to access a lot of new information and enrich our knowledge and understanding of any subject. At the same time, it can reduce critical thinking and creativity.
Instead of figuring things out and thinking for ourselves, we might mindlessly ask Google the question and believe whatever comes up first. Instead of being creative and coming up with solutions to problems, we might rely on the internet.
Try not to get into the habit of Googling every little thing. There is an overload of information on the internet, and too much information isn’t always good.
For example, while Google can help you learn about a specific subject, browsing Reddit needlessly and reading what dozens of commenters have to say about a subject might be a waste of time. Their opinions might not be relevant or meaningful at all.
7. Can Make Us Lazy
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The internet and technology have a habit of making us lazy. There are so many shortcuts to so many things that we often shy away from putting in the work.
This applies to everyday life and business. Why exercise when you can order a weight loss pill from Amazon and get it the next day?
Why bother to learn how to do math when you can find apps that will solve even complex mathematical equations for you?
Why put in the work at school when you can quickly find someone online who will happily write your essay for just $15?
The internet can make us lazy and unproductive. While using automation and software to save time is one of the top benefits of technology, it’s important to channel that extra time and energy into productive things and not just become lazy and waste that spare time.
8. Can Decrease Our Attention Spans
The internet has decreased our attention spans significantly. There’s always something new to look at.
Don’t like a YouTube video? You can just find another one.
Bored with a blog article? Click the back button and move on to the following result on Google.
There’s always another friend to chat with, another person to swipe on a dating app, another movie to watch on Netflix, and another way to waste time. The internet has made it hard for many of us to focus – the vast array of choices isn’t always a good thing.
Even when we are doing other stuff, we often fail to live in the moment and focus on the task at hand. You might be studying but checking your Snapchat for new messages, or you might be riding the bus and mindlessly watching the latest silly clips on TikTok instead of looking out the window and enjoying the beautiful nature.
9. Can Be Addictive
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The internet can be addictive. Getting likes on social media can release dopamine in the brain, similar to other addictive behaviors.
That’s not to mention all the other addictive things technology has brought us, such as video gaming, pornography, and online gambling.
Wrapping It Up
Technology has its pros and cons. Anyone saying that technology is evil is being disingenuous – it’s simply a tool that we can use for good or bad; technology is what we make of it.
Without technology, we wouldn’t have the advanced society and the level of healthcare that we have today. At the same time, we should recognize the pitfalls of technology, such as addiction and social isolation, and use it wisely.
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