Tech Hits Age-old Values?

Technology has brought us speed, innovation, increased access to information, and above all, connectivity. However, there seems to be very little discussion about its impact on our humanness. Social values and norms have always been subject to change. New and updated findings would replace the outdated and irrelevant thinking and values. But in those bygone days, this process of change used to be slow and less convincing.

People hardly believed in those changes because of their preoccupied and stereotypical mindset. The values and logic held by our forefathers and parents appeared almost static and baseless. We had to believe in what others say about certain claims and assumptions. In contrast, the digital age has brought with it a rapid transformation in who we are as social creatures, where our position is in this regard, and how we perceive certain changes taking place around us. 

Before the advent of modern technology, our sense of belonging to places used to be very strong. Once considered central to society, that value is no longer considered as such. The sanctity of the place where we are born or have grown up has lost significance, resulting in a weaker sense of belongingness and loyalty. Increased screen time has resulted in a decrease in face-to-face interactions within families, meaning a reduction in time spent on healthy discussions and sharing experiences. 

Gone were the days when our grandparents, parents used to tell stories about fairy tales or a kind king or wicked monster keeping children in a circle. But today, social media has exposed individuals who differ greatly from those held by traditional families, impacting relationships, marriage and child-rearing. It has created unrealistic standards of success and beauty, leading to dissatisfaction within oneself and within families. 

The increased engagement of young people on digital platforms has also detached them from older generations, threatening the age-old value system prevalent in our society. Social media's pervasive influence, including valueless family vlogs and TikTok videos, is eroding youth's creativity, undermining their focus and progress. Vloggers and TikTokers are increasingly brainwashing the masses, altering society either positively or negatively. Today, young minds are unaware of such useless content on social media, which is rapidly swallowing our age-old value system.

On the bright side, technology has contributed to strengthening family ties by enabling family members living far away to remain connected through video calls and messaging, fostering a sense of togetherness despite living far apart. It has also facilitated the provision of far more educational resources for children by enabling parents to access online courses for their children, including online teaching parenting apps. Gadgets like tablets and smartphones are becoming more common in education, and they are used for virtual tutoring and monitoring of children's progress. 

Technology has also facilitated gender equality and empowerment, challenging traditional gender roles in family life. Women can now access information that enables them to pursue their careers and financial independence. Technology and globalisation have also brought distant cultures closer.