How Does Technology Affect Our Community

Advancements in technology have been a leading contributor in shaping the world to what it is today, enabling us with many new techniques at which we can communicate. These technological improvements such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, and social networking sites have come to life at our fingertips, enriching communities with new advances and new approaches for communication. Technological improvements have demolished the barrier among us, allowing us to communicate with anyone in the world more directly and quickly. Technology is rapidly augmenting unity amidst communities, ultimately making people aware of events occurring around them. These communities consist of people who care about each other’s well-being, and these individuals lend a helping hand when others are in need. Technology has benefited communities, prompting them to expand beyond their boundaries and convey a new, prominent meaning beyond the general definition.

Advanced technology has allowed people to become more informed and involved in their communities, while creating new relationships with others. According to a survey conducted among teenagers, “those who used their smartphones for social media like Google+ or Twitter knew more people and were more

involved with organizations” (Klein). This survey proclaims that technology has opened people’s minds to what events are offered in their communities, and has provided them with essential information. There could be an activity taking place that might interest an individual, but they might not be aware of its existence. With social media they will be. If the director of an event posted a message, utilizing social media, then majority of the people would be informed. Simon Kemp, a manager and journalist of We Are Social, concluded that 3.010 billion people utilize at least one social media network. This emphasizes that many individuals will be aware of an event if it is posted on a social media network. Furthermore, social media benefits organizations that are raising awareness of a common issue, such as a disease. In 2014, the ALS Association (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) conducted the ALS ice bucket challenge, which was popular on many social networking sites, including Twitter and Instagram. Barbara Newhouse, the CEO of the ALS Association, declared, “‘This is a creative way to spread ALS awareness via social media and in communities nationwide.’” This event’s popularity educated people about ALS and helped raise money for the ALS Association by having people dump a bucket of water on their head and donate money. “More than 17 million people participated in the challenge to support ALS and other causes, raising $115 million” (Bonifield). Without the aid of participating communities, the objectives of the organization would never have extended across the nation, and the ALS Association would never have raised funds for research that could potentially rescue many struggling lives. Social media is continuously being enabled on various forms of technology comparable to smart phones, which greatly increases the likelihood of people being knowledgeable about an organization. Social media apps that are available on smart phones and other devices, allow people to stay connected more easily and be informed about global issues, and yet some people contend that this does not benefit everyone in the community. Dr. Kate Rodgers states that, “‘Families text rather than have conversations”’ (Johnson). Even though face-to-face interactions are not as prominent, social media benefits individuals by enabling them to be aware, ultimately causing them to come to community events and meet new people. As a result of this, individuals will generate new face-to-face interactions all because of new technology and awareness. Social media is one form of technology that is connecting communities by providing information about organizations.
Similarly, communities unite when something tragic happens around them because the tragedy impacts the whole world, not just the community directly involved. Paris was attacked by a group of terrorists on November 13, 2015, creating a horrific event that ended many innocent lives. Not only do attacks like these affect the country being directly targeted, but they affect any community on a global scale that somehow relates to the attacks. An example of this would be the Paris community converging together with tweets on twitter such as, “The French hashtag #PorteOuverte, or open door. Strangers without shelter [would have] a place to stay” (Payne). This hashtag is significant because even if Paris citizens did not know a fellow community member, it is informing them that the communities are welcoming people into their homes. Parisians, Paris citizens, recognized that they are one community who together were affected by this horrendous event. Social media additionally assisted in keeping people updated on the events unfolding at the attack sites. It allowed people to give Paris the support that the city needed to get through the attack, and let the individual communities surrounding Paris evolve because it created a new sense of nationalism through the people uniting together. Such technological improvements enable family members to stay connected with loved ones in times of tragedy, uniting families as well. A news account of this momentous event was recorded by Alexandra Stone interviewing Mary Ann Strasheim, stating that, ‘“I immediately sent her an email, and fortunately she sent one right back and said, 'We're fine, we're home and everyone is safe.’” Strasheim has a granddaughter living in Paris and the only way to communicate with her is email. If social networking methods such as email never existed, Strasheim would have had no way of knowing if her granddaughter was safe and would have waited in suspense to hear her status. This is also accurate for other individuals in the world trying to contact their relatives. They would not know if the people they cared about were safe, unless they sent them a text, or called them from their cell phone, ultimately using technology. Technology provides us with the devices we need in order to be in contact with people who live all over the world and provide comfort for one another. Although this event caused the Paris community to come together with all the posts on social media, it harmed the Paris community because the people got a firsthand look at a true act of terrorism. Pamela B. Rutledge indicated that, “Social media amplifies these events, allowing people around the world to instantaneously see and respond to the horror and to feel the sense of vulnerability and chaos.’” Despite the fact that these communities have to witness these reprehensible acts of violence, it unites them around one cause through knowing, as a community, what is occurring in their city. If communities see a common enemy, they all work together against that enemy, so they can live in a peaceful world. Technology can provide support because people can reach out to one another by using social media, calling, or emailing in order to contact their loved ones. Through this support, technology brought Paris’s community together while establishing a sense of nationalism, and allowed for loved ones to check in with their family members. Without technology, Paris would not be as united as it is currently, where everyone supports one another through strenuous situations. This supports the expansion of the meaning of community because all of the surrounding communities came together to help Paris, uniting everyone together as one.
Technology does not divide people or shut them out from the world, but instead it unites them closer together, causing them to care about everyone in their community.

There might be some negative effects of technology, but those do not outweigh the positive ones. As a result of new technology, people now can be more aware of what is taking place in their community, be involved in community events and organizations, and get accurate news updates on their cell phones or tablets. Technology can be used to communicate with loved ones who live hundreds of miles away, and can also provide a peace of mind for families. Citizens of all countries need to realize that technology benefits everyone and that it is a vital part of our

community.