Final Post: Relationship with Technology

     I think my relationship with technology is relatively healthy, aside from the amount of time I spend on a screen. I can admit that occasionally, I’m one to find myself on my phone for hours at a time. Usually, this occurs on TikTok, as I am thoroughly entertained by the content that the algorithm provides on my feed. However, I think I’m good at managing the information I find online and taking the things I see with a grain of salt. If I find one perspective of a current event or news story, I’ll investigate its legitimacy and find other points of view. I understand that information gets spread on social media so fast that it may be untrue or incomplete, so I prioritize confirming information I learn about from sources. It is something I try to be very cognizant of, and encourage other people to do so, too.

    One of the biggest issues I feel affects most people concerning technology, especially on social media, is its correspondence with mental health issues and self-esteem. Social media influencers and prominent figures often only show the most ideal parts of their lives, promoting a lifestyle that’s unrealistic for most people. Whether it's with luxurious homes or cars, visual appearance, or lifestyle, the standards set by influencers are difficult to attain, and I believe it contributes to mental health. The National Library of Medicine even conducted a study aligning with these ideas, which found that adolescents with high social media usage had lower self-esteem. I figure this belief may come from disappointment in oneself for being unable to meet these standards, or jealousy surrounding them. I know I personally find myself admiring people online, wishing I had something they do. Some studies support this point as well, by understanding the amount that people compare themselves to others online and the effects of it, like low self-esteem. Clearly, these factors could highly contribute to poorer mental health. 

    My digital footprint is something I’m very mindful of, and I’ve had it for many years. Growing up in athletics I was always told to watch what I would post because coaches looking to recruit me may check my socials (which is true, my coaches do follow my social media platforms and interact with things I post). I make sure that my content is very PG. I try to promote a positive lifestyle, I don’t use profanity, and use the test where you consider what your grandparents would say if they saw your post. I also aim to be as authentic as possible. Technology can be such a positive tool to keep up with friends and family, which are some of the main reasons that I use it. I think it has become a huge part of today’s society, people are almost completely dependent on it to be successful. Technology enhances entertainment, informational resources, communication techniques, and innovation. But, with that being said, people do need to remain mindful about how it is being used and the dangers of it. Responsibly using technology is critical because of how powerful it is. 

The Age of AI

     

The video on the age of AI was highly engaging and brought attention to ways technology is being used without much public knowledge. Many of the experts featured throughout the video were concerned with the use of AI, and warned of its growing power in society. Much of the conversation was focused on the use of AI as a modern surveillance technique, constantly gathering and storing data about private details of our lives. 

Yoshua Bengio made one of the most shocking points in the video: that AI will benefit the people who can control it. Those people with the power and ability to control the AI systems are going to dictate their benefits and harms. This information was shocking, especially considering that so much of our information is already in the hands of very powerful people. China was named in the documentary for being almost a complete “surveillance state” with cameras placed everywhere, and noticeably enough to remind common people that they are being watched. China has some of the most advanced technology, but
in the video, Amy Webb mentioned that fifty-eight other countries are considering using the type of software that China uses. This is obviously concerning because these types of extreme techniques being used to intrude on people’s personal privacy are being spread. I wonder how soon it will be for other established countries to follow in their footsteps. 

Fortunately, information about the use of AI and its powers has gained more public visibility in recent years. This has encouraged people to advocate for stronger privacy laws and a stronger understanding of the information that companies hold. For example, the California Privacy Law (derived from the California Consumer Privacy Act) was released this January. Components of the legislation include the “right to know” what information a business collects, how the information is used and shared, opting out of sharing information, and the right to delete some of the collected information. Hopefully, this type of progress will continue as AI advances and spreads more efficiently. 

Watch the documentary! It was very insightful: In the Age of AI