We are taught that technology is systematic, logical, and the antithesis of emotionality. This is explained in the keyword as “the superiority of science, the link between technology and progress, and an emphasis on things.” The Vox article disrupts this positive, materially focused idea, explaining how technology has a profound negative impact on our emotional experiences and interpersonal relationships. This position is widely supported by research, but as the article explains, Big Tech companies don’t want to change their business models or practices because individuals disengaging from technology and media, while good for the mind, isn’t good for profits. The psychological effects of technology are something I find really interesting. We all feel and experience these every day, often unconsciously. For me, going for a walk or spending time with a loved one makes me feel noticeably better than spending a day alone looking at a computer or phone. However, there is this instant gratification that comes with using technology that also creates positive emotions, creating a sort of paradox between the technology-derived response and the more real-world experience. I wonder if our society will continue leaning further towards life as dictated and mediated by technology, or if we will reach a balance that doesn’t weigh tech companies’ profits over social relationships and personal happiness.
2 thoughts on “Technology: Mary Margaret Clouse”
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I definitely agree with this and can relate. I think one way we are pulled in that we discussed at length in class is the impact of notifications. The INC article “Why You Can’t Stop Checking Your Phone, According to Psychology” contends that this is referred to in Psychology as operant conditioning and is not new. For example, animal behaviorists suggest that animals are more willing to learn or more understanding when given a positive reward at random, intermittent times rather than on a schedule. This relates directly to our behavior because we are typically not sure when a notification may come in, leading to more frequent check-ins with our devices.
It was interesting when reading the Vox article that to a certain extent technology isn’t always there to help us, sometimes it is just there to make profit for companies. One thing that stood out to me in the article in particular was how Facebook tried some experiments where they demoted “bad for the world” stories on the news feed. This switch could have potentially increased the mental well-being of Facebook users, but the technology was ultimately scrapped as it decreased the amount of time people spent on Facebook.