Is technology

having a negative
effect on us?
By: Robert DeAcutis

Introduction: Technology has

always been a beacon for controversy

Writing abilities others are saying this
throughout history. However, things that are
technology has unearthed negative opinions,
now integral to people's lives today, such as
and ideas that were once relegated to places
the printing press, the internet, and writing.
far outside the mainstream, and could be
Where at one point seen as a sign of the
harming politics and culture as a whole.
world changing for the worse. This
However on the contrary some experts
mentality has carried on through today,
believe technology is having a positive
technology such a social media has given
effect by enhancing our cognitive abilities
people ability to communicate with others in
via human computer collaboration. All told
ways that were once impossible. It has also
is technology having a negative effect on
granted us the ability to access all of the
us?
world's information at our fingertips, thanks
Expert section: According to some
to the invention of the internet. And with all
experts it is. For example author Nicholas
this new technology some experts say it is
Carr in his article Is google making us
having a negative impact on our ability to
stupid?. In this article the author Carr makes
communicate, And on our reading, and
an argument that the internet, and its

instantaneous gratification, and feed of

information, has made him and many other where skimming the material, and only read

lose their ability to engage deeply in briefly before moving to another page. In the

reading. He states that it is not a lack of end he entertains the idea that he is just like

reading but rather, a different kind of many before him, shortsighted and unable to

reading. That has reprogramed our method see the many benefits to new technology

of thinking, and even given us a new sense instead of just the short term changes it will

of self-“My mind now expects to take in have on our society. On the issue of how

information the way that the Net distributes technology could be negatively impacting

it: in a swiftly moving stream of our culture and politics. British journalist

particles”(Carr 426) he is saying that Our and author Carole Cadwalladr in her article

minds ability to dive deep into our reading has Google, democracy and the truth about

been lost due to the way our reading habits have internet search takes a look at how google
changed. No longer are we able to sit down and
search results are being manipulated to bring
become a part of the text we are reading, but
certain search results to the top. Many of
rather we impatiently await the next
which are troubling to people. The article
instantaneous, and gratifying blurb of text to
also gets at the idea that with great the great
maintain our interest. His position then delves
freedom that technology has granted us, we
into the idea that we are, and will inevitably
must exercise caution when using it to avoid
become less autonomous, and more
unearthing dangerous, or otherwise harmful
community focused. He later cites a study
views. And that it is our social responsibility
from the University College London. That
as a community to address this perceived
over the course of five years. Looked at
problem. Cadwalladr says later that “The
various forms of online written information.
technology that was supposed to set us free
They uncovered that people using the sites
may well have helped Trump get little effect on students writing.” They

elected”(Cadwalladr 495). Implying that recognize the differences between texting

much of what we see on the internet is being with friends and writing

used to deceive us, and uphold the ideas of formally”(Cullington 468). Saying that

some, and diminish the ideas of others. A students today are not oblivious to their

power that has given those who wield it the audience when writing in different

ability to determine significant political and circumstances. And are able to differentiate

social changes. This ties into her underlying between formal and informal. After

point that “These tools offer remarkable conducting his own research into the matter

empowerment, but there's a dark side to he examines what other experts think on the

it.”(Caldwell 483). Saying that technology is subject concluding that. “Many experts

a new frontier, and has presented many would agree that there is no harm to text

challenges in how we use it. Some experts speak as long as students as long as students

are more focused on the way technology has continue to be taught and reminded that

impacted our writing skills. More occasions where formal language is

specifically, how texting is affecting our expected are not the place for it”(Cullington

writing skills. Michaela Cullington is one of 468). Suggesting that as long as students

them. In his article does texting affect possess the formal writing skills they need

writing? He dives into the effect that texting them will be able to use it appropriately.

and “textspeak is having on students writing. However Cullington is not the only expert

The article examines both sides of the who views technology as a positive. Author

argument, then conducts its own research, Clive Thomson in his article “smarter than

and comes to the conclusion that texting has you think” looks at how Computers have
overtaken humans on the throne of or no impact on our world?: 7.) have you

intelligence, and how collaboration between noticed a change in your attention span since

man and machine can in make us smarter the introduction of new media?: 8.) do you

than ever before. This idea came to light in find it hard to concentrate on a text for an

the world of chess. When world champion extended period of time?: 9.) where do you

chess player Garry Kasparov lost to IBM’s get the bulk of your news from?: 10.) Do

Deep Blue Supercomputer. Later on you trust mainstream news networks/ print

Kasparov decided to combine human media? 88.9% of my respondents were

knowledge of programing with the raw between the age of 22-25. 8.3 % of

calculating power of computers to create the respondents said they were between the ages

ultimate chess team. of 30-35 and 2.8% where 40 and above.

Methods: In order to find out how people Results: Answering the question directly as

thought on this issue I collected data using a to whether or not technology has had a

survey. I received a total of 17 respondents positive or negative effect on the world. 6

this was collected over the 8 days that the (35.2%) out of my 17 responded that it has

survey was live. My questions were as had a negative effect while 8 (47%) said it

follows: 1.) what is your age? 2.) Have you has had a positive effect. Leaving the

served in the armed forces? 3.) What is your remaining 4 people (23.5%) saying that it

education level? 4.) do you believe that has had both a positive and negative effect.

harmful ideas should be censored? Explain: And no one said it has had no effect at all.

5.) has technology negatively impacted your After examining how they responded to the

life, if so how?: 6.) do you think that remaining questions I found that results

technology has had a net positive, negative, were less varied. When asked if they feel it
is hard to concentrate on a text for an networks will take advantage of a few

extended period of time the respondents extremists to exclude all right wing

unsurprisingly from ages 22-25 unanimously opinions.

said they do find it difficult to focus long Discussion: The results of my data did not

term. With the older demographics they surprise me. I knew who my responses

responded almost the same. From 30-35 all where coming from, all of whom where

but one responded that they have a hard time friends of mine, and lean very conservative.

focusing long term. When comparing my This was the primary reason why my results

data with Nicholas Carr's thesis that differs so much from the argument Carole

technology has sapped us of our Cadwalladr presented in her article.

concentration in reading it seem as though However on the less political issues, it

he is onto something. Now as for Carole seems that regardless of ideology people

Cadwalladr on the idea that technology has have are affected by technology the same.

allowed for bigoted, and dangerous ideas to Conclusion: After both reading the opinions

negatively influence politics and society. My of experts.

respondents seem to disagree. When asked if And conducting my own research it is clear

harmful ideas should be censored. The that technology has changed our live

consensus was overwhelmingly no, with all tremendously, and has the potential to have

17 in agreement. When asked to explain both positive and negative changes.

they mostly stated that, any idea not in line

with mainstream opinion will be subject to

unfair censorship. In other words more

liberal social media outlets and news

 References

Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making

Us Stupid?” They say I say, edited by

Graff, Gerald, Birkenstein, Cathy,

Durst, Russel, W.W. Norton &

Company, Inc. 2017,

Cadwalladr, Carole. “google,

democracy and the truth about internet

search”.

Cullington, Michalea “ does texting

affect writing’

Thomson, Clive “ smarter than you

think”
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