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The explosion of digital technology has dramatically impacted society in all facets of life.  It has evolved us as a species and will continue to change the way in which we interact with each other, the way we think, and eventually the human body itself will gradually transform.  In terms of inventions, the birth of the internet has far surpassed any other invention known to mankind with respect to the magnitude of change occurring within the relatively short lifespan of its existence.  As a child, I recall when robots were once considered something so distant in the future, but now we have a form of a robot with the internet.  It contains more "knowledge" and holds more information than any human being.


Digital technology has altered society in several ways that I have observed and experienced:
Socially & Culturally - Digital technology has changed the way humans make plans and interact with one another.  It appears that encounters and relationships have somehow become more casual and less personal via the advancement and widespread use of social media.  Formalities and formal interactions are becoming less common.  A simple text message now is the norm for setting up a date with a potential mate rather than a phone call or knocking on the lady's door to ask her parents' permission for a proper date. 
Along these lines, for better or worse, it appears that even the cultural style of dress for those in the younger generations has evolved into a more casual trend.  People are generally more accepting with an "anything goes" type of attitude.  The iconic CEO Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerburg, is often seen wearing his T-Shirt even when meeting with other high profile CEOs and officials. 
The so-called "dot-com" generation has also been known to feel the need for "instant gratification" and appear to have less patience than the elder members of society.  This makes sense given digital technology's ease of immediate information sharing and overall access to information at the click of a button.  Only a few years ago it seemed normal if someone did not respond within a day or two.  Now if someone does not answer after one or two days, 911 is serious consideration. 
General reliability between friends is also another changing element of human interaction because with the click of a button someone can cancel plans or easily evade previously planned obligations.  A few decades ago, if I told someone we were to meet at the train station, I had better show up because I had no way of letting my comrade know I could not make it.  It used to be considered nearly impossible to ask someone to "hang out" on the same day because planning with such short notice was simply not possible.  With cell phones and text messaging, "meeting up" is now the norm and planning events out is becoming less common (or so has been true in my experience).
Governance & Governing:  As Jack Goldsmith and Timothy Wu illustrate in their example about Yahoo in "Digital Borders", the internet has and I believe will continue to erode the general power of government.  The internet has no borders and trying to determine the convoluted doctrine of privacy is a grapple for any expert to endure.  The internet also enhances the power of the individual (for better or worse) as it affords all members of the world with a platform for anyone to view.  With an unlimited audience propaganda becomes all the more powerful and any thought can be expressed and followed by the masses.  Culturally, this can also enhance narcissism to the extent that one's own thoughts, photos, and individual power/image can be continually broadcasted for the world to see. 
The internet has obviously changed the way laws are enforced and the modus operandi in which criminals operate.  While the internet has arguably made it easier for law enforcement to catch certain types of criminals, other types of threats (namely, cyber crime) are more difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to detect.       
Economy:  While the internet has worked wonders for many economic gains such as providing general efficiency; the downside is the threat that if the internet crashes or otherwise becomes inoperable, business suddenly takes a back seat and can become totally paralyzed acting as a prime target for adversaries (as the recent Target credit card hacking events have shown).  In other words, the benefits of efficiency are only truly beneficial to the extent that internet platforms are operating smoothly.  The overdependence on the internet is perhaps the most frightening thing our society faces.  I will never forget the first time I was at a store and the "servers" were down at the checkout counter.  After two hours of shopping and loads of groceries, I was turned away even after offering cash!  The computer system required all transactions to be logged.  The damage to the economy if this were to happen on a grand scale would be damming.
The internet has actually changed the very definition of success and perception of success in my opinion.  In one minute, you can become rich off the internet.  One youtube video posted can start Justin Bieber's Hollywood career; the advent of a social media website can make someone one of the richest in the world.  Striking it rich has become much easier for some who thrive off the popularity contest the internet provides.  How this has impacted the traditional view of the American dream remains to be seen.

Revision as of 03:21, 29 January 2014

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