Drawbacks to Technology?

The past twenty years has brought about an influx of new ways to expand our social networks, particularly through the internet.  We can now gain information and communicate with our loved ones from afar quicker than ever before.  But with the new age of dating networks like Match.com, social networks like Facebook, not to mention online shopping, what damage, if any, is being done to our society?

I think we certainly should be concerned about WHO we are talking to and how far we go.  The Craiglist killer is a recent and perfect example of the dangers of not truly knowing what kind of person is on the other side of the screen.  Also, more and more prospective employeers and universities are looking at what an individual posts online, and making decisions on whether to hire or fire.  More and more people are putting more personal information out there for the world to have access to, myself included, and it is certainly something that many people should be cautious about.

But there are so many advantages to having social networking via internet.  As long as we are smart and careful, the world has literally opened up to us, whereas the generations before us did not have that.  We've been talking about the importance of globalization and common markets worldwide, as well as higher tolerance and understanding of differing cultures and societies in order to stamp out prejudice.  The internet gives us the means necessary to do this.

I think the concern is making sure younger people know how to use the resources now available to us, wisely and safely.  Afterall, we are social animals.  The majority of us are still going to seek the face to face company from our "primary groups".