Blog Post 6: EOTO Technology

The EOTO presentations seen were educational, and I walked out of the room with things I did not know before. I never realized how technology has had that big of an impact on the world today, and the issues and prospects that come with it are worthy of our utmost attention. In the presentations, I saw the impact of the rise of social media from the 2000s into the 2010s to the present day. Websites like YouTube, whose early slogan read "Tune in, hook up," helped people express themselves in the media. 

Among the most notable breakthroughs is how access to information with technology has influenced our world today. Social media has benefitted education and the spread of knowledge, just like in the most difficult moments, like the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it has helped people stay in touch with family and loved ones, keeping relationships that could otherwise be difficult to maintain. Another area affected by this is the capabilities of technology, which includes specialized professions like surgery, whereby experts can provide informative material to far-reaching audiences.

However, with the rapid growth of technology comes some disadvantages. The presentation highlighted the troubling phenomenon of misinformation. Which has the potential to spread rapidly through multiple platforms. This can negatively impact public understanding, which is an arising issue right now. For instance, copyright issues also arose as a prominent topic, with online sharing of content raising questions about intellectual property rights. These phenomena require careful consideration to mitigate their impact on society.

The conversation also shed light on some fascinating and unexpected examples of the misuse of technology. Among them is the use of pigeons to smuggle drugs in different countries. This is a reminder that advanced tools and technologies can be used to carry on immoral practices. I personally think we have so much advanced technology that can be used for good practices, but we have people in the world that choose to abuse them. To conclude, the presentation highlighted the positives and negatives of technology. The presentation has shown its ability to bring people together, to inform, and to innovate, alongside its ability to create problems as well. As we move forward into a more modern society, we need to consider the pros and cons of social media and the digital world.