Thirty one years ago people were fascinated of the movie ‘Back to the future’ in which the lead character travelled through time using a time machine and went to the year 2015. Back then the concept of time travel was the hottest trend; it was when the people of science were trying everything on their arsenal just to make a revolutionary break through that will change the filled of technology.
Now that the age of computers and gadgets has arrived and the things that were featured in the movie were not a fantasy anymore, can we actually say that we are living in the ‘future’?
Many might agree, but to scientists and inventors it is not just yet. It is true that for decades the technology has been advising in mind blowing rates and as the turn of the 21st century folds the computer tech reached its highs peak so far.
But what does the new age bring to the newer and younger generations of today?
Today children as early as one year old can operate a smart phone and find their way through computers. It is remarkable to say the least how the technology of the present can drive the young’s minds to a vast concept of electronic technology, but at the same time it hinders them in so many aspects as well. Social and physical were a few examples.
It is true that the computer age brought forth the social media age where in one can communicate and interact with someone anywhere and anytime. But there is a world’s difference between social media and actual socialization.
Studies that were conducted in the U.S. proves that 60% of the time social media friends were actually strangers or distant in terms of relationship with each other in person compared to the ‘close’ interaction they have in the cyber space.Social media is also used negatively by means of bullying, cybercrime and scams. These said crimes make it a lot more dangerous to scroll and read posts in your profile wall in comparison in actual walking in a dark alley in the middle of the night.
Physical wise, technology can anchor the young ones by preventing them of having the much needed bodily activities that their growing physic requires. Truthfully that is the main objective of technology; to make our lives easier and for us to be able to do task with less effort. But in a child’s case, the objective becomes counter initiative. These in turn can cause either child obesity or lack of stamina that can lead to more serious and deadly illnesses.
So as much as we celebrate the advances of the technology around us, people should also learn to balance what is ‘helpful’ to what is harmful’. It is a simple case of what is too much can be harmful. Now as the computer age climbs the summit of its progress we shall see if what indeed the future hold. May it be flying cars or the extinction of the life as we know it? No one knows.
By: Medori Laxamana | Teacher III | Lucanin Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
