How Technology Disrupts the Way We Socialize

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How Technology Disrupt the Way We Socialize
Introduction
Even though technology has enhanced the manner that people can gain access to information, it has also been utilized by various regulators such as the government in impeding the spread of ideas by preventing information from being disseminated mechanically. Governments have censored news media outlets which have only resulted in misinformation of the public. The introduction of smartphones has been beneficial to teenagers as it has enabled them to stay in touch with their friends quickly and also communicate with other individuals on various issues. However, smartphones have only led to severe mental health issues on teenagers. Before the introduction of such telecommunication technologies, people interacted differently with their friends and families which strengthened interpersonal relationships among teenagers.
Communication technologies and smartphones have huge benefits, however; the consequences of using such technologies have led to detrimental effects on its users. Additionally, issues of teenage suicide have skyrocketed as some users have developed mental problems such as depression and isolation issues. It is therefore clear that technology mainly social media has significantly disrupted the tenets of most of our democratic institutions. It has placed people at risk of losing their sense of identity and cohesion. Technology has disrupted the manner that people in the society can connect and also share on important issues affecting their lives.
The paper will highlight the manner that technological devices such as smartphones and mediums such as social media have disrupted the foundations of existing democratic institutions such as news outlets. This will be done from the analysis of the articles: In the article: ‘It's the (democracy-poisoning) golden age of free speech’ by Tufekci, Zeynep and also the article: ‘Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?’ by Twenge. Jean. It will also draw parallels to the manner that mental health issues, cyberbullying and various other consequences that emerge from the use of smartphones among teenagers.
How technology has disrupted the manner that people socialize with each other
‘It's the (democracy-poisoning) golden age of free speech,’ Tufekci, Zeynep stated that: “In the 21st century, the capacity to spread ideas and reach an audience is no longer limited by access to expensive, centralized broadcasting infrastructure. It’s limited instead by one’s ability to garner and distribute attention. And right now, the flow of the world’s attention is structured, to a vast and overwhelming degree, by just a few digital platforms: Facebook, Google (which owns YouTube), and, to a lesser extent, Twitter.”
With the flow of public attention highly structured through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, people have continuously spread false information concerning the real world issues that significantly affect them. Facebook and YouTube have been created mainly for optimizing engagement without the element of the user being physically present to connect with other individuals outside this virtual world. Since 2016, ther...