The advent of technology particularly in the form of the
internet has had a great impact on our society. Information is readily available to all researchers; whether it may be a school, assignment, wealth knowledge or just curious on lookers searching for products, services and even porn.
Gone are the days when we hours were spent at the library searching through encyclopedia and rewriting or retyping its contents. An individual now has the option to cut and paste and even forward the information to the head of a group, who may be responsible for putting the project together. Recently a friend of mine had a presentation at school which she prepared using power point. This was sent to her email address which was then used to access the information on the day of presentation. All this was possible through technology.
Over the years several companies have launched and had become multi-billion dollar organizations as a result of the internet. Companies like Dell have grown significant by using direct marketing strategies to project themselves and offer services on a global level. By what other means could Dell have grown into a 40 billion dollar industry if it had not utilized technology, which ironically, it produces and sells?
Technology has changed the view of the world from just been one big place filled with uncertainty into a global village where cultures, businesses and ideas are accessible and shared on a day to day basis. Whilst this is good, there''s always the flip side. Most of us are aware of hackers, exploiters and sex pervert who have taken on full time jobs by surfing the internet in order to lure and manipulate the next innocent victim into the path of destruction.
Only recently, it was reported in the local media that a young woman in her late twenties met an ex-convict online. The relationship grew and both felt the time was right for a face to face meeting. She was abducted and killed. It has not yet being ascertained whether or not the ex-convicted suspected of the crime has been captured or found.
Children are also vulnerable to contents found on the net and are fast adapting these cultures these cultures of promiscuity. Just recently, student of a very prominent high school were caught taking pictures with high-tech camera phones in several compromising positions. Whilst portions of the instruments were confiscated by school authority, the videos were already in circulation and could be found the internet.
The question is, what had fascinated the students so much to the point where they wanted to expose themselves? Could it be that they have come to accept what confronted them by the click of a mouse and wanted a share of the pie? What is sure is that children live what they learn and it is being expressed in the world in which we live.
Technology will continue to grow and enhance our lives in a positive way, but surely the negatives will not be left behind. The internet is exposing our children to a whole new world. But the question is how much of it is constructive and how much is garbage?
Your guess is as good as mine.