How Has Technology Ruined The World

The Earth is over 4.5 billion years old and I have somehow managed to be alive at the same time as the world's greatest creation, wireless internet connection. There are several important inventions such as the automobile, the compass, and the light bulb, but I think we can all agree we would all give up transportation, a sense of direction, and even good eyesight if it meant we could keep our internet router. You will often hear older generations hollering about how technology has ruined the world and we’re all going to die because of Twitter; however this anger only stems from the fact that they don’t know how to turn on an iPhone. All jokes aside, I firmly believe that the internet is the most critical element in becoming a successful, intelligent, well informed, and productive member of society. Cue the disapproving murmuring from the elderly folk who think I’m just a

spoiled brat and need to be more appreciative of the little things. These include the refrigerator, the microwave, and even lighting; however this is when the concept of time comes into play. Imagine I was born in 1823 instead of 2000; Things such as electricity and even a sanitation system were considered privileges just as the internet is in this era. I am also sure the people born in the 1700s were yelling about how they had to use fire for lighting and how it is ridiculous that people don’t die of poor hygiene before age 25. Innovation in technology is not a new thing and it all just depends on where in time you were born. By this logic, electricity is not something I should be marveled because I do not exist in a time and place that would be considered a miracle.

Aside from the elderly people, there are people in my own generation who believe the internet is dumbing us down and is a huge waste of precious time. They believe we all spend our time on social media, wasting away and not learning anything useful to society. Now if you ask me, that is a very outdated reason to condemn those who have their eyes glued to their screens. While it is true that most teenagers spend a lot of their time on social media sites, the internet has grown to become a new education platform in itself.

I was 13 years old when my life started to revolve around the internet, and while my parents were less than impressed with my choice of pastime, I must say that the world wide web had changed me for the better.

Making the full use of what the internet had to offer me, I became far more educated in global events, events in our own country, and even about things such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. Thinking back to the type of things I would say and think from even 4 years ago makes me cringe because I was so unbelievably ignorant. School had not educated me on how to be a decent human being and how to be free of judgement against gender, race, and sexuality. The people I surrounded myself with were raised in the same conservative mindset as I so they were not able to teach me. The internet made it possible for me to look into news, stories, and the history of people who are discriminated everyday. As I enlightened myself, I started speaking more about with I learned, slowly getting my friends into teaching themselves. Ultimately, the internet had created a positive cycle of

education.

The internet had also opened me up to hundreds of different career options, hobbies, and interests. For a long time I had nothing to be passionate about anything and had nothing to invest my time into positively. After searching around the internet I found out that I was extremely interested in psychiatry, and marine biology. I could really just sit down and read about both for hours and hours without moving. I have many friends who haven’t found any subjects that they find to be the most interesting thing in the world and I firmly believe it is due to the fact that they don’t dig deep into the web. The internet show you new things you’ve never even heard of, or even open your eyes up to something you didn’t give a second glance.

Looking back to all those people complaining about how things were so much better back in the day, sometimes I try to think about if my life would have been better in a time period before the 2000s. How could I have liked the blatant racism that filled every corner of our history? How about the obvious disrespect and sexism women faced on the daily? Based on just those two things I could forget about being more than a housewife forget a doctor or scientist. I believe those who wish to go back in time are being lied to by nostalgia. Nothing about the past is as perfect as many tried to make it out to be. I am content with living in the modern era of independence, innovation, and chang