English+Essay

The Dangers of Technology in Society Every day, new ideas and technology are shaping the way we think and learn. They effect human interaction, education, and everyday life. In two books we read this semester, technology plays a huge role in people’s lives and government. In __1984__ by George Orwell, characters live in an oppressive government where they have no control over their lives or individuality. Characters Julia and Winson try and rebel against big brother, the "Government", but cannot because of the high amount of government power. __Little Brother__, written by Cory Doctorow is about a society much like our own. Technology has completely taken over and causes many problems. In this book, there was a recent terrorist attack and the government tries to provide security, even if it means taking away rights. Marcus, a high school student, gets found by the DHS at the wrong place and the wrong time, and is taken into questioning. Technology is a main part of our lives, but it is necessary to be aware of its growing control over our society. Although society has benefited by the new technology in many ways, society is unaware of the damages that technology can cause and therefore in the future will become technology dependent.

Technology is always changing. Everyday new discoveries and ideas are being presented. It is amazing to see how far technology has come in the past few years. In //1984//, George Orwell describes a world where technology is a huge part of everyday life. "It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself – anything that carried with it the suggestion of abnormality, of having something to hide" (Orwell 145). The technology in 1984, although very controlling, is very advanced. The telescreen is able to detect the smallest behavioral abnormalities. Many of these devices in the book, although very amazing, are also used against citizens like in //Little Brother//. Cory Doctorow's character Marcus describes technology as ,"'...really fun actually. Teaching people how to use technology is always exciting. It's so cool to watch people figure out how the technology around them can be used to make their lives better.'"(Doctorow 267) Marcus is a genius when it comes to technology, and he enjoys teaching others how it works and can be used to benefit a society. When technology is used this way, it is very exciting and cool. Today, many new technologies have developed. According to World Internet Usage statistics, at least 37.2 % of the population are active internet users. That is more than a quarter of the population that are connected each day. Everyday sites like Facebook and Twitter gain followers, proving that internet use is growing. But like in //1984// and //Little Brother//, people do not understand how they are being watched and how the internet and other things can be used against them.

Although technology can be very amazing and helpful, it is possible that it could be used against its users. In many cases, people are unaware of the amount. For example in 1984, the government uses technology to its advantage to control the people. The society is unaware of the amount of control the government has though. "'You can turn it off!' he said. 'Yes,' said O'Brien, 'we can turn it off. We have that privilege.'" (Orwell 368). The citizens of Oceania are aware that technology is being used against them. They know that they are being watched and spied on, but they don't know how much control the government has on this technology. This situation is much like the characters in Little Brother, who fight the governments hold on them. "The average Londoner is photographed five hundred times a day, just walking around the streets. Every license plate is photographed at every corner of the country"(Doctorow 142). Everyday, innocent citizens are being photographed and being tracked by the government. These people are unaware of the amount of surveillance that is present in their country. Even today, technology is being taken advantage of. A cell phone may be seen as a brilliant way of staying connected with friends and family but it can also be used as a tracking device. "When you carry a cell phone, it is constantly sending signals about where you are. It "pings" nearby cell-phone towers about every seven seconds so it can be ready to make and receive calls. When it does, the phone is also telling the company that owns the tower where you are at that moment — data the company then stores away indefinitely.(Cohen). Cellphone companies always have access to where someone is, at any given time. Most of them doing it without any knowledge of the user. A simple phone could be used against a person. media type="youtube" key="MDSCC5iR_DE" height="315" width="420"

With the increased use of technology in today's world, it is easy and very possible that the population will become technology dependent. With growing users on every website, its hard for the future not to be totally absorbed in technology. It is not possible to stop after how far the world has gone to make technology a part of everyone's life. In 1984, technology has gotten to the point where it is used by the government for surveillance. "'You are the dead,' repeated the iron voice. 'It was behind the picture,' breathed Julia.  'It was behind the picture,' said the voice. 'Remain exactly where you are. Make no movement until you are ordered'"(Orwell 477). Julia and Winston discover that there was a hidden telescreen in their room. When the government uses technology to spy on its citizens, there is no going back. The government will continue to use new technologies like this to observe people. In Little Brother, both the characters and the government are already dependent on technology. They rely on it for everything, including security. "Working in security means knowing a lot about technology. It might mean knowing about computers and networks, or cameras and how they work, or the chemistry of bomb detection. But really, security is a mindset."(Doctorow 367). People who are trying to provide security have a certain way of thinking. That won't change. They will be technology dependent trying to provide even more security using new technology. This won't change because they are consumed with the idea of security. Today, citizens are most at risk of becoming dependent on technology. Today in America, 93% of teens go on the internet. That is almost the entire population of teens that are connected to the internet, and that number is growing. Also, 75% of teens today have cell phones. Cell phones are dangerous because they reduce the amount of human interaction necessary for forming relationships with people. According to New York Times, kids ages 8 to 18 spend 7 1/2 hours a day using a smartphone or online. Technology has become so present in people's lives that they find it easier to send a text message than to actually have a conversation with someone. This could be very dangerous to the future of America and other countries where internet and cell phone use is present. http://www.investigatorconfidential.com/01-your-right-to-know.htm

Society has benefited from the increase of technology, but it is important for society to be aware of its growing control. If they can do this, hopefully the future will not become dependent on technology. There can be many simple ways of decreasing dependency on technology. By turning off a cell phone for an hour and having a conversation in person with another human being, people will be able to work on human relationships and create better ones in their lives. Parents have to set limits on kids and even themselves and stick with them. Many kids go online whenever they want and parents must insist that kids ask for their permission. The kids then will know that technology can not be used at any time. Also, many children do not understand the dangers of technology, and must be warned about internet safety. If citizens listen to this message and set these limits then the dependency of technology in society will be decreased.



Sources:

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Doctorow, Cory. //Little Brother//. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2008. Print.

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