Is Technology making us less human?

Theme:

• Since the invention of machines, there are debates on whether technological innovations are affecting human behaviour. With the drastic improvements in technology, our lives now revolve around technological devices. Social scientists observed that this is resulting in the deterioration of human qualities such as morality and intelligence in humans. Not everyone agrees with this statement of course. Let’s see the points to support and oppose the argument.

Yes, Technology is making us feel less human:

• We are increasingly depending on technological devices to guide us. For example, we keep reminders on smartphones and google the questions for answers. We are outsourcing the activities that require intelligence to technology. Thinking, remembering things and analyzing are the essential qualities of humans. Too much dependence on technology is making us less human.
• Many face to face communications are also replaced with virtual interactions. Many people are now living in virtual homes, which is the smartphone. As the need for talking with each other is reducing, the ability to communicate with each other which is a basic quality of living beings is declining.
• Our decision-making skills are also getting affected as we are now asking search engines to know what is best. We are depending on the knowledge base of the internet even at offices to finish the work at hand. This affects cognitive skills ( to think, read, learn, remember, and reason), which is the essential quality of humans.
• When someone is in trouble, some people are taking videos and pictures instead of helping them. This became a common thing these days. Dependence on technology is affecting our morality, our system of values and principles that decide which is right and which is wrong. This makes us wonder whether we are turning into machines.
• Since the invention of machines, the value of workers is decreasing. They are made to work to support the machines. As a result, work revolves around machines and not humans. Workers are forced to work continuously along with the machine. Industrialization increased work hours. Workers faced inhuman conditions.  Humans cannot work and focus continuously like machines. Fast forward to today, we have technological devices to check how many hours we actually work. Some companies want to be connected 24 hours a day through emails and messages. This makes people feel less human.
• Some companies are building strategies to use their apps for a longer time, to keep us addicted to their apps and devices so that they can show advertisements to us. And also they can use our data to manipulate our decisions for their profits. These strategies are turning humans into just targets.
• People are now engaging in trolling and cyberbullying. Hiding behind devices is giving them the courage to harass other people, which they may not do face-to-face. This is the deterioration of moral values.

No, Technology is not making us less human:

• Using technology, people are maintaining and improving relationships with their friends, family and relatives. Many people are also connecting with each other to help the needy and to inspire each other. So, now we have better tools to build human connections.
• Technology is enabling us to work from home. This facility is helping employers to be more understanding towards employees. Many companies are now adding elements to work culture with the help of technology to make employees feel important.
• Technology is just a tool. How we use it depends on us completely.

Conclusion:

Technology is a double-edged sword. If we allow, it may turn us into its slaves. It’s up to us to not let it make us feel less human. Technology is just a tool, and we need to trust our abilities more than machines. In developed countries, people are asking for their right to disconnect so that they can keep their mind off from work. Companies are now adding elements to work culture to make employees feel important. This is a progressive thing and a step towards designing a world where people comes first.

Your Turn…

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