The Effects Of Technology On Society Essay

Technology comes in various forms. Examples include television, cell phones, social media, tablets, computers and so on. Technology has been a broad subject of interest and discussion in many fora. Technology affects many areas of our lives and determines the efficiency and effectiveness of various work activities. Its effects permeate into human relationships and interactions. The world continues to witness advances in technology in medicine, entertainment, communication, leisure, commerce, industry, and production among others fields. This paper pays particular focus on the positive and negative effects of cell phones, Facebook, and computers.
The introduction of cell phones into the communications industry has played a significant role in enhancing communication. Cell phones have made it easier to send and receive messages unlike in the past where the primary modes of communication such were significantly slow. Cell phones also known as mobile phones have revolutionized communication thus promoting business, trade, international and inter-personal communication. However, a closer analysis of cell phones reveals certain dismal effects. For instance, a study by Wdowiak et al. on the association between cell phone use and male infertility established a positive correlation. The study sort to determine the effect of cellular use in males undergoing marital infertility therapy in Poland. The study found that prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiations produced by GSM equipment led to the abnormal morphology of sperm. Mobile phones were seen to result in significant decrease in sperm cells (Wdowiak et al. 169).
Additionally, cell phones have had adverse effects on marriages and societies’ moral structure. To illustrate, many husbands as well as wives cheat on their spouses via mobile telephony. Again, it is easier to lie using the mobile phones hence destroying trust among people.
Social media are fast advancing with every moment. For instance, Facebook helps to get people to interact and discuss issues affecting them. Additionally, it provides an excellent platform for making new friends. Additionally, it offers an excellent avenue for spending one’s free time as they catch up with friends and colleagues. Also, it provides a useful avenue for people to reconnect with their old friends. Even businesses are tapping into the social media field to market their products. These are just but a few benefits.
However, Facebook has dealt a number of adverse effects on its users. For instance, Kim et al. did a study on the impact of self-presentation and number of one’s Facebook friends on the personal well being of the college-age users. The study revealed that, although the number of Facebook friends improved their subjective well-being, most users showed little perception of social support (Kim et al. 359). In addition, Facebook tends to draw much of young people’s attention as they spend long hours chatting and browsing through the posts. Indeed, this reduces face-to-face interpersonal interactions significantly.
Technology has brought positive change to my life. For instance, with a laptop computer I can now work in my house and at flexible hours. Additionally, I get to know how my friends are doing through Facebook. Computer-mediated campaigns continue to utilize young people’s genres and media to appeal to the youth and create functional learning environments (Bryant et al. 450).
Technology is good for us. However, the ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ squarely lies on the user. However, it is crucial for people to make personal decisions on the type, frequency and model of technology they will utilize. Equally vital is for people to study the physical effects of the technology they use.

Works Cited

Bryant, Jennings, and Mary Beth Oliver, eds. Media effects: Advances in theory and research. Routledge, 2008.
Kim, Junghyun, and Jong-Eun Roselyn Lee. "The Facebook paths to happiness: Effects of the number of Facebook friends and self-presentation on subjective well-being." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 14.6 (2011): 359-364.
Wdowiak, Artur, Leszek Wdowiak, and Henryk Wiktor. "Evaluation of the effect of using mobile phones on male fertility." Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 14.1 (2007): 169-172.