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31 views

Synthesis Response

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api-547253554
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Olden 1

Michelle Olden

Ms. Acosta

English 12

3 December 2020

Technology: The Downfall of Society

In today's world, technology is at the center of society and is what keeps it going.

Education, work, communities, and relationships all revolve around technology and rely on it to

keep everything working and to have the information needed on a day-to-day basis. Technology

has made communication efficient and brought ease to daily tasks. It is safe to say that many

people find it hard to go about their day without technology. However, despite the beneficial

impact technological advancements may have on society, scientists have found that technology

has been dumbing down generations and making many people lazy.

It goes without a doubt that technology has made multiple tasks easier to accomplish in

many efficient ways. Having technology be a part of society allows for jobs in designing the

software and algorithms needed for things to run as smoothly as they do. It is evident that all

benefits come with their downsides and in this case, it is the fact that technology has made newer

generations lack prior skills that may be needed in the case that they do not have access to

modern devices. Thomas W. Malone, an American theorist, published his book Superminds: The

Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together, with the message that

technological progress has allowed individuals to forget how to do things that used to be

essential to learn. In some cases, newer generations never learn or hear about these prior skills.

Following the publishing of Malone’s book, researchers came out with a study claiming “...using

computers to search for information did make people smarter at searching, and dumber at
Olden 2

remembering facts.” The message in the study has shown that while technology gives us access

to worldwide information, it also allows people to stop retaining information since they have

access to search for information. Faye Flam, a columnist, states at the end of her article New

Technology Endangers Old Skills that "One never knows what old-school skills might come in

handy."

While many would see unlimited access to information as a plus from the rise of

technology, the reality is that technology is only teaching us ways to be lazy and have the tech do

the work for us. That same technology that provides communication and simplicity to common

tasks has dumbed down generations and made many people lazy.

Works Cited

Flam, Faye. “New Technology Endangers Old Skills.” Post and Courier, The Post and

Courier, 14 Sept. 2020,

www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/new-technology-endangers-old-skills/articl

e_64f2fc4c-65ba-11e8-b915-d745709ce58e.html.

Anderson, Janna, and Lee Rainie. “Concerns about the Future of People's Well-Being and

Digital Life.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center, 31

Dec. 2019,

www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-bein

g/.

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