Technology Is Destroying The Core Tenets Of Human Decency

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.”

This quote was credited to an eminent 20th-century scientist who believed that while technology continues to advance, humanity lags far behind in ignorance. 

Technology has good and bad parts. However, most humans are unable to differentiate between the two. 

Therefore, it’s people’s responsibility to recognize what technological products should not be consumed so they can be replaced with good products that benefit society. 

People addicted to the harmful components of technology become poorly educated and do not progress intellectually. 

This is because of the ignorance technology brings through videos, games or other silly materials that praise figures representing evil and crime that incite violence and abuse. 

Harmful exposure to technology slows the intellectual growth of humans, creating a society riddled with tired, poorly educated and confused people that often have suicidal and antisocial tendencies. 

The smartphone is an important technological achievement that is appreciated for its usefulness for communication and access to information. 

However, much of society is ill-prepared to take advantage of its usefulness. Smartphones in the hands of oblivious people can lead to unfortunate situations. 

People are glued to their screens, leading to the common examples of bad manners observed worldwide. 

Cyclists operating a smartphone while biking, drivers texting and driving and parents neglecting their children by checking their phones are all examples of irresponsible behavior of people with bad manners.

Technology can also affect young children. Electronic tablets decrease kids’ interaction with parents while excessive television watching affects their language and creative development. 

In terms of physical health, specialists have found bone damage in hands connected to the constant motion used in texting, hearing damage due to headphone use and eye damage due to the overexposure to bright screens. 

While some are alarmed by the negative effects the overuse of technology can have, little to nothing is being done to mitigate it. Where are the people who can keep order and stop technology’s assault on our values without halting humanity’s development?

We must totally discard the use of bad technology and moderately consume its positive aspects. Through smart solutions, we can decrease ignorance and restore balance. 

Humans need to inspire themselves by nature and their surroundings. Both settings invite us to discard automatic thinking and create our own, creative thoughts. 

When we find our place in nature, we are encouraged to dedicate the time and energy needed to become a good person and leave a positive impact on our environment. 

If each one of us embraces this selfless work, we will all enjoy the good results. 

Roberto Fano is a guest columnist for The Reporter. He has served as a weekend-shift custodian at Kendall Campus for nine years.