Electronics within the age of modern technology

Learn about the controversy that surrounds electronic devices within this current Information Age we live in.

After people began using electricity to benefit their lives, electronic devices came about. The invention of the cell phone and laptop has been helping people communicate with each other more easily than they did in the past. Even though electronic devices help to create a lot of convenience for people, those same devices can also create numerous obstacles. Although I believe that people should be able to use electronic devices freely, they should do so in moderation.

Sometimes people use electronic devices for valid reasons. That means that they actually need to use it in order to get through the day. For example, a person might need to look at a map on an electronic device in order to avoid getting lost while travelling to work or going on a trip. That person might also need help understanding a word while reading, and so would need a translating device. For example, people who have trouble understanding English might not be able to thrive in a Westernized place, like America. Using electronic devices could help such people live their lives even with language barriers that they might face.

However, if people use their electronic devices excessively, or for reasons that are not necessary in order to get through the day, that is when people need to put in the effort to disconnect from those devices. For example, many people watch movies and video clips on their electronic devices. I also like to use social media, but this can be, and often really is, a really time-consuming activity. I believe that it is perfectly fine to use electronic devices as a way to unwind after a long day at school or at work. However, there are times in which I might accidentally spend too much time on my device. Therefore, there must be a time limit on using electronic devices for the simple fact that time could be spent on other meaningful activities, like eating a nice dinner or studying.

Another reason as to why people should sometimes disconnect from electronic devices is so that they can have time to form meaningful friendships with other people. Some people communicate with each other only through electronic mediums, like Twitter and Instagram. There is the idea that Twitter and other social media websites make connecting with others easier, but these social media websites can actually do more harm than good. By nature, humans are social beings, and people need to talk to each other in real life in order to learn more about themselves, other people, and the world around them. People who communicate with each other only through electronic devices might not be able to develop social skills that are necessary to live a life with value because social skills can help them learn to coexist.

Just because electronic devices makes communication easier does not mean that it improves communication. People who make the effort to see each other in person often have superior social skills compared to those who restrict themselves to technological communication alone. There is a feeling of emptiness that comes with just talking to another person through electronic methods, like e-mail, texting, and social media. Also, words that are typed into social media could be easily misunderstood because people cannot see facial expressions through electronic devices. There is the exception that sometimes electronic devices can help people maintain long-distance relationships, yet there is an intimacy involved with actually being able to talk to another person in real life. Because of these problems, it is better for people to disconnect from electronic devices every once in a while, and to interact in real life instead of wasting time on their devices.

In the end, I believe that people should only be able to use electronic devices if they absolutely need to do that. Sometimes people are over-reliant of their electronic devices as a means to communicate, and they might accidentally waste two or three hours of one day in front of their devices instead of doing more meaningful activities. Within the modern age, using electronic devices has seemingly become a necessity. The only caution that I can offer is that people must know the difference between what is necessary and what is excessive. People should only use their electronic devices as needed.