The Digital Crossover: How is Technology Changing our Society?Daniel Taylor How will this technology impact our society? How has it already impacted our lives? The wider trends in the world will play a key role in how this situation develops. Technology itself can be used for good or evil. The political, economic and social atmosphere intertwined with individual choices will mold the outcome. Heres a scenario: The debt crisis, disintegrating society and broken economy force people to shrink their circle of travel out of necessity. The sustainable development agenda doubles this effect as it pushes for smaller living space 250 square foot apartmentsfor example. Trips to the movie theater are cut. Traveling to physical stores is replaced by online shopping. Technology gives individuals a varied array of experiences that previously required real connection with human beings (social networking, Netflix, adult material, etc.), enabling isolation. When an individual does go out to conduct business, wearable technology in the form of augmented reality contact lenses go with him. Every person on earth is now connected to the Internet. Every object is transmitting data. Teens arent getting drivers licenses The technological revolution is inflicting changes on humanity that have been largely ignored or gone unnoticed. Some are subtle, others are painfully obvious. WNYC reportedon the dropping number of teen drivers last year. Young listeners responded to the question of why they are not driving, or driving less. Some cited poor economic conditions. One responded, I drive less because I have become a couch potato. The Internet takes me anywhere I want to go. And services like Netflix provide entertainment at the touch of a button. Its also a lot more affordable. The Demise of Guys Philip Zimbardo, psychologist and professor at Stanford University, is the author of several books including The Lucifer Effect and The Time Paradox. Zimbardo struck a chord with young men across the country when he delivered a TED talk titled The Demise of Guys. He points to the social awkwardness and failing grades of young men as symptoms of a deeper problem. Watch Zimbardos talk: There is hope Is humanity destined to a future of a dehumanized, disconnected dystopia? I dont think so. The human spirit is resilient; Its drive to genuinely connect cannot be silenced forever. The pendulum will swing in the opposite direction as more people realize how our dependency on technology has crippled us. Take the lead today and start unplugging as much as you can. Those who do so now could very well be the envy of the world in a few short years. Daniel Taylor is an independent researcher, activist, and webmaster of oldthinkernews.com. You can find out more about him and his site HERE linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 