Week 6: Social Connections

With all the advances in technology we are able to do some pretty amazing things.  We can learn about anything from Google, we have the internet on our phones, and we can video chat with someone on the other side of the planet.  According to our textbook Americans use the most internet.  I assume that this is why some people are worried that Americans are becoming more isolated.  I do not understand why they say that only Americans are becoming isolated.  Almost everywhere you go there is internet access.  America does not have some amazing technology that no one else has.  I do believe that we are becoming more isolated because of all this new technology but I do not believe that it is only America, it is everywhere.

I have to agree a little bit with George Ritzer that life is becoming less personal.  We no longer talk to bank tellers when we can get cash and make deposits with an ATM.  We no longer have to go to the mall to shop because we can do it online.  And unfortunately when we want some customer service on the phone we have to wait an hour on hold and press ten different options just to speak to a human being.  Some of us don't even have to go into work because we can do it from home.  I think that face to face interaction is becoming more and more obsolete.  In this sense I do believe that we as a society, not just Americans, are becoming isolated because of technology.

On the other hand, technology has given us some opportunities that we otherwise would not have.  If a group of young school children cannot afford to take a field trip to China they have the internet to learn all about it.  They can see pictures, movies, learn the language, culture, and cuisine of a place they would not be able to visit in person.  Technology has allowed us to be in contact with people all over the world without having to take the time and money to go there ourselves. 

I believe that technology has given us some great opportunities to be connected to people all over the world.  It offers us covenience and speed.  However, with all this great technology we cannot forget the importance of human interaction.