Human beings have advanced their knowledge in today’s technological world since the creator is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 24:5: “A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might.” Human beings are currently developing and advancing the use of Technology as experienced in all sectors. According to Diamandis, H. P., & Kotler, S. (January 28, 2020), as it has progressed, it has become a more significant and intergraded part of human life. It has also given every sector many ways to save time, money, and resources globally (Diamandis & Kotler, January 28, 2020). Humans have advanced in computer technology to utilize scientific knowledge for real-world purposes to alter the environment around humanity, particularly in how people communicate, think, and learn in their daily activities. Society has developed advanced technology to ease their lives by reducing, eliminating, or shortening/minimizing any physical process. For example, humans have automated everything, and most people would prefer to go to a fast-food restaurant where the machines perform the entire process rather than where they place an order through a person. However, little by little, these creations by human beings, including smartphones and internet technology, are on a mission to alter and manipulate the meaningful and usual way human beings interact with each other and their relations. They are also disconnecting them from the world around them and leading to an increased sense of isolation in the modern world of Technology. As the daunting future looms, human interaction is changing with each generation, and humankind’s race is fading away with no time. Although Technology has come along with vital positive results, it is killing human communication since the negative impacts greatly outweigh the positive ones, particularly in the human way of communication and interaction.
Despite Technology having come along with vital positive results, it has become a distraction to the human way of communication and interaction. Members of society at least have interacted with or heard people argue that Technology is on a mission to destroy humanity rather than advance the human population. Many people think Technology is massive in this century, but in several decades, it will even be more advanced. The ease of long-distance communication, enhanced online interaction, the accessibility of entertainment, and access to information from any locality in the comfort of individuals’ homesteads are some of the positive outcomes associated with Technology. Many individuals think Technology has adverse negative effects despite these essential aspects. Therefore, people are currently concerned about whether Technology has negatively affected the human way of interaction or not. If these concerns are actual, then Technology has posed a severe challenge in today’s society that needs fixing without killing or stopping technological advancement.
Technology is killing human communication, yet the Bible in the book of James 1:19 “my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak. In this era of Technology, Smith, J., Hewitt, B., and Skrbiš, Z. report that Technology has adverse effects on people’s lives (Smith, Hewitt, & Skrbiš, 2005). Severe health effect for children and adolescents has been reported in various studies and research as one of the adverse effects of Technology based on the assessment of specific media and Technology such as video gaming, internet application, mobile use, and many more. Little by little, smartphones and mobile use has become an element of destroying the meaningful human communication and interaction they have with their fellow. It has disconnected individuals from their environment and led to a feeling of isolation. Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Today’s generation, particularly the young ones, prefer texting or calling their friends, family members, and classmates and even end up not seeing each other at all rather than spending time with them. An hour spent with friends, family members, and classmates sharing a meal and talking face-to-face is more than 30 texts or 5 calls made without face-to-face interaction. People need to see each other face to face because they cannot replace one of their friends’ ear-splitting grin and smiling eyes with a smiley-face emoticon, even if it is cute. It applies to friends and family members and people globally, including workmates in different industries and other sectors. Additionally, talking to friends, family members, partners, and potential employees face to face is intangibly accurate and valuable.
According to Almuaigel, D., Alanazi, A., Almuaigel, M., Alshamrani, F., Alsheikh, M., Almuhana, N., . . . Mansi, K. (2021, May 21), most young population, most young people spend most of their time on social media and interacting with their gadgets as a way of interaction. This has initiated psychological distress independent of physical interaction. Studies show increased loneliness, attention challenges, depression, aggression, withdrawal, sadness, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and suicide planning. This study also indicated that this population prefers using their phones rather than talking to their colleagues. Most young people prefer sending a message or using other means to communicate with their colleagues rather than talking to them even if they are sitting next to each other. Such behavior is killing the natural ways of human interaction to the extent that young people cannot speak to others face-to-face (Almuaigel et al., 2021).
Although Technology is killing the traditional way of communication, it has many benefits that have aided in improving human well-being and knowledge. Based on measurements and advancements of Technology, Technology has assisted humans in understanding other humanity and their environment. Advancement in Technology has enhanced and led to a more fulfilling way of life, particularly improvement in health, biology, and science as initiated by Technology as reported by Dimbleby in the journal Technology and the Future of Healthcare (Thimbleby, 2013). Such inventions have aided human beings to live a more fulfilling life and overall well-being and stay in harmony with their fellows through technological advancements. Technology has offered a solution to various human challenges in society, including health problems such as medical technology advancements. This advancement has facilitated human connection while providing proper medication, such as inoculations of fatal diseases such as plague, cholera, and typhoid, and strengthened social ties (Alotaibi & Federico, 2017).
According to Thimbleby H. (2013, December 01), Technology has made it easy; people can access information from any locality in the comfort of their homesteads through online interaction, solving numerous health problems. For example, the establishment of social media groups for therapeutic exchange and medical-based websites have made it easy for patients to obtain health information from the comfort of their homes. It has al enhanced the interaction of health providers regarding various challenges they encounter, as Thimbleby, H. (2013, December 01) reported. Many patients worldwide have learned about the less painful operation (surgical operations) that is painless for appendicitis hernia and how to offer care, encouragement, and other health and social care services to different patients and their families. Contrary to the traditional way, with advancements in Technology, health providers can attend to many patients within a short time, and patients can receive consultancy services online, avoiding physically traveling. Besides, patients can make an online booking at the comfort of their homestead, which has been reported to be a convenient method and procedure for patients who cannot often travel long distances, especially for older adults (Alotaibi & Federico, 2017).
Conclusion
Although Technology has significant positive outcomes, it is killing human communication because the adverse effects greatly outweigh these positive outcomes. Technological advancement is currently being experienced in all sectors and adversely influences human lives. Suppose the speed at which modern Technology is developing is not decelerated. In that case, in a little while, it will subtly destroy the meaningfulness of interactions humans have, disconnecting humans from the world around them, and leading to a looming sense of isolation in today’s society. Humans will be useless without understanding how to complete processes and communicate with others physically. Without this control, Technology will wipe out human interaction and the entire race.
References
Almuaigel, D., Alanazi, A., Almuaigel, M., Alshamrani, F., Alsheikh, M., Almuhana, N., . . . Mansi, K. (2021, May 21). Impact of Technology Use on Behavior and Sleep Scores in Preschool Children in Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.649095
Alotaibi, K. Y., & Federico, F. (2017, December). The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Saudi Medical Journal, 38(12), 1173–1180. doi:10.15537/smj.2017.12.20631
Diamandis, H. P., & Kotler, S. (January 28, 2020). The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives (Exponential Technology Series). Simon & Schuster.
Naimah, N. R., Ishak, A. S., Sultan, H. H., Ismail, F., & Fahrudin, A. (2022, January). Effect of Digital Technology on Adolescents. 1-18. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-8318-0.ch001
Smith, J., Hewitt, B., & Skrbiš, Z. (2005). Digital socialization: Young people’s changing value orientations towards internet use between adolescence and early adulthood. Information Communication and Society, 18(9), 1022-1038. doi:10.1080/1369118X.2015.1007074
Thimbleby, H. (2013, December 01). Technology and the Future of Healthcare. Journal of Public Health Research. doi:10.4081/jphr.2013.e28
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