The Secret Behind the Screen

The Secret Behind the Screen

Having a brain is nice but having two r three would be even better right? Smart phones and tablets have gone through so many advancements that these small devices do almost all the thinking for the modern human. Sense of direction is no longer needed with a GPS, and basic knowledge in various subjects aren't necessary with Google at the palm of our hands. Technology is helpful and does provide many resourceful information with just the touch of a button, but just how far will they go until people no longer do their own thinking? It's no longer a way to make life easier, but a way for people to be controlled without knowing it.

Technology is all around, and is making a huge impact on society each and every day. Cell phones have become a necessity in life. People feel the need to constantly be updated on what's going on around them, whether it be people's lives or other news on social websites. They've also become a convenient source of information, allowing the user to search up anything on the web with their smartphone anywhere they are. According to Nicholas Carr in his Article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", he states that "Research that once required days in the stacks or periodical rooms of libraries can now be done in minutes.", which clarifies the convenience of technology (Carr 2). At the surface, this may seem like something that anybody would be grateful to have. The problem with this is that people begin to change the way they think. Information isn't necessarily learned, it's memorized and forgotten since anyone can "Google it later". This mentality causes one to rely on the Internet for information and not from their own personal knowledge.

To expand on this, the brain is no longer doing its own thinking. "Sergey Brin and Larry Page... Speak frequently for their desire to turn their search engine into an artificial intelligence... 'Certainly if you had all the world's information directly attached to your brain, or an artificial brain that was smarter than your brain, you'd be better off" (Carr 6). Having a brain that is smarter than your own is something anyone would love to have. In the form of artificial intelligence, however, this is a bad idea. Reiterating the fact that people will no longer do their own thinking, this allows for society to be more influenced by what media advertises and their actions, one way or another, can be controlled. What everyone else does, they might as well do it too because that's what's "trending".

Privacy also plays a big role in technology and whether or not it truly is more beneficial versus it being detrimental to society. In this case, privacy is not guaranteed. As stated here, "The faster we surf across the web--the more links and pages we view--the more opportunities Google and other companies gain to collect information about us and to feed us advertisements." Online companies and websites can easily gather all the information put on the Internet. Not only web searches and clicked links, but private information that's placed when creating an account for a website. Facebook is a perfect example of this, where privacy is is minimal. Phone numbers, Gps locations, and all else such as profile pictures and status posts are all things that are open to the public, including the government and the owners of the Facebook company. According to Statistics provided by Facebook themselves on newsroom.fb.com, Facebook alone has 745 millions active mobile users daily. Everyday close to 3 quarters of a billion people are on facebook, spilling out personal information to the public without even really knowing it, and this is something the government knows and does nothing to regulate their privacy.

Now, it's not being said that technology serves no purpose other than to degrade society. Technology serves many uses such as quick and efficient communication, access to international information and personal information such as bank accounts,and even online shopping exists for those who may not have a means of transportation. All good things come in moderation, and once it's abused it soon becomes a bad thing. Alcohol is a perfect example of something that means no harm until it's abused, and that goes for anything including technology. People need to stop looking down and open their eyes to what's around them.

In a World of Judgement

America is a place full of opportunities, opportunities that may not be available to everyone across the world. Of course, those across the world would like to know they have the same chance at these opportunities just like any American would, that is, if only they actually could. Immigration is something America has dealt with for over a century, but not correctly. Deporting these immigrants would rid America of the problems caused by them, but Granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants not only does good for the people, but it benefits the country as a whole.

Immigrants are seen as a “threat” to American Society. A threat in such  way that doesn't necessarily jeopardize our safety, but rather a threat to the American culture. Different regions in various cities, such as Chicago, have whole towns designated to various cultures. Hispanic culture is one of them, and its normal to see a few store signs that are read in different languages rather than the preferred English language. In the quote, “Many Americans see foreigners moving into their towns, see signs in spanish, and fret about changes to the traditional fabric of society” the author describes the current situation many Americans face nowadays (Kristof 1). “Foreigners” are what they're called, but interestingly enough, unless you’re a “full blooded American Indian” as stated in Kristof’s article,  you too are considered an immigrant, and more specifically, a documented Immigrant.

The documentation of immigrants is obviously the main issue. Most of these people have already established a life in America with part time jobs and finding place to live, so they already are giving back to the country by providing work and paying to live and eat. Small opportunities like these are what immigrants come to America for and they shouldn't be punished for wanting a better life. It takes more money to go through the process of deporting these undocumented immigrants rather than granting them amnesty, which allows them to fully contribute to American society.As stated here, “they will contribute $45 billion over five years in payroll taxes to the United States economy” documenting these immigrants would only boost Americas economy (Kristof 2).

Along with boosting the economy, these immigrants can provide more than just that for the country. Considering they're from different parts of the world, they're able to bring their culture to America and provide diversity within American society. It shouldn't be seen as a threat, but more of a benefit and even an upgrade. Being open to different cultures and accepting other people's beliefs and way of being is what America is all about, and this should be embraced rather than pushed away with deportation.