Sosyal Medya

Society and Culture

Is technology enslaving us?

Undoubtedly, technology plays important roles in various facets of our lives. However, as technology grows, we tend to lose many important aspects of life.
29-10-2020 08:13
Muhteber Görgün
 
In the race for socio-economic growth and development, the use of information technology has become indispensable. Undoubtedly, technology plays important roles in various facets of our lives. However, as technology grows, we tend to lose many important aspects of life.
 
First, it is essential to note that modern technologies make our lives easy.  It is undeniable that the internet has fast turned the world into a global village. Thus, reaching out to kith and kin, obtaining and dispensing information on the other side of the world is at our fingertips.  With a click, we can buy a product and order it to our doorstep. Thanks to the internet, the queues are gone! Now we can carry out transactions with pocket-sized gadgets. Of course, when used correctly, the internet is a revolutionary invention.
 
In any case, despite all eulogise and applauses, it seems that the value of the internet is not really about what it is described as but what it is used for.  Thus, the internet is only useful when used properly. Otherwise, its harms are magnificent. For instance, the use of the internet is damaging the human body, family structure and spiritual structure. It causes damages to some of our organs and occupies our mind.  Mankind, in the light of the verse; "We created humanity in the most beautiful form. (Tin:4)" is an enormous composition made up of the body and soul. Undoubtedly, this beauty as to be kept.  
Our body system works on certain proportions.  When the body endures extra weights or remains immobile for a long, the body's physiological development is disrupted.  In the same vein, internet addiction may be devastating.  Physiological disorders such as low self-esteem, impulsivity, poor sleep quality, mood disorder and obsession are attributed to extensively use of the internet.  Besides, because of being in too many virtual environment or platforms, family and friend relationships are greatly damaged. Frequent users tend to distance themselves from their immediate environment while focusing on the "unreal" life.
 
Talking about the negative sides of the internet, it is inherent to mention the effects of the "child of the internet"- social media has on us, whether as individuals or as a society. 
Social media has completely rubbed out the concept of time management. We spend more time on social media, mostly doing nothing specifically. We scroll down newsfeeds by reflex and hop across apps. Our activities are greatly hampered. And eventually, it makes an individual loses a sense of responsibility.  Lack of self-confidence occurs when responsibilities are not fulfilled.
People now prefer to share their meals on social media instead of sharing their meals with their poor neighbours.  The one who shares the pictures ignores the hadith, "when you prepare the broth, add water to that and give that (as a present) to your neighbour." (Muslim, Birr: 185). Unfortunately, this is what humanity has become. 
 
Intra-family communication is on a gradual decline. We are evolving from being social beings to isolated creatures. E-books have replaced prints and the book culture that used to be an intellectual unifying factor for the family is sinking into oblivion. 
 
Internet addiction has started to become a common disease of our age. Indolence and laziness are now the order of the day because people have gotten used to doing things more easily. As a result, also, they developed the habit of giving up easily.  The students' disposition to doing homework has changed. Instead of working on imaginations and creativity, they would choose the better option of "copy and paste". Hence, the sense of imagination in these young minds are fading away gradually.
 
It has become easier for malicious or incompetent people to reveal polluted information and create conflicts in society with fake news.  Protection of personal data has become difficult; it is possible to pass personal information to others with various software.
 
Due to the curiosity of posting every step of their lives on social media, the concept of privacy is decreasing day by day. Emotions have moved to the cyber world.  A world that has comfortably accommodate violence, hatred, bullying amongst other social and universal immoral phenomena. Undoubtedly, the psychological effects of these great. 
You must have seen in public transport, able-bodied young people who bury their heads in their phones, and never bother giving the seat to the old and pregnant. And of course, like them, we have many people who are unaware of each other even though they share the same environment.
 
Time may not suffice to make a list of these problems, but there is something to be said: Let us use technology, and not be used by it.  
Stay in peace!

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