Touchscreens, Smartphones, and Frictionless sharing....OH MY!
In the film the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy clicked her ruby shoes together three times and miraculously, and instantaneously, was back home surrounded by everything that was of comfort and value to her (her personal belongings, her family/friends).
Do you see a resemblance? Our demand for social technology has recreated the scenes from this classic film. For example, if you were to lose your smartphone, which presumably contains nearly all of your important information, wouldn't you want to click your ruby shoes and have a new phone magically appear? Your stress would be eliminated instantaneously, and your level of comfort reinstated.
Have we become so dependent upon social technology that our entire life is being held together by plastic and a computer chip? Would you be able to function without your smart device for one week ?
There is no doubt that social technologies have made our lives more organized and easier. I am able to order take out on the way home from late night swim practices via smartphone. By the time I get to the restaurant, the food is ready, I don't have to cook, and we can all be in bed or, in my case, studying, by a reasonable hour. We can stream new release movies into our home. Who can argue against these benefits social technology has provided?
But, all of this modern convenience comes at a price. As a culture, we have become so technologically involved that we forget that we are human; we still need to interact or have contact with our fellow human beings. One idea being presented was that we eventually we will be able to program our cars to send a message to the neighbor wishing them a good day as we drive by. But what about walking over and saying hello; or rolling down the window long enough to bid them a good day? How do we teach our children about interpersonal skills, when these very skills are being taken over by smart technology?
Technology jeopardizes privacy. Although the FTC has set clear expectations for businesses, what about privacy and ethics guidelines for interacting a social network channels, such as Facebook or LinkedIn. Should an employer really have a right to hire you or fire you based on what you do in your private life? These are issues that still need to be clarified and addressed.
In my opinion, social media has made my life easier in just about every way imaginable. I appreciate all of the conveniences. As long as our culture can find a healthy balance for social technology and human interaction, we will continue to flourish and technology will continue to be welcomed. As soon as we begin forgetting basic interpersonal skills in lieu of technology, that is where our culture will begin to oppose technology and will yearn for the good ol' days.
