The 21st century is characterized by its integration of technology into every facet of our society. A modern person is surrounded by computers, television, and smartphone screens, with information offered from every imaginable outlet. As a result, people are more educated and connected to the outside world than ever before. This paper will explore the ways in which modernity affected our society.
With the rise of the Internet and citizen journalism, everyone is capable of having a voice and swaying the opinions of millions with solid facts, innovative ideas, and moving imagery. Individuals are capable of communicating with others thousands of kilometers away, eliminating ages-long biases and creating a mutual understanding of one another in terms of politics, ethics, culture, and religion (Smith et al. 1023).
For a modern citizen, borders have become obsolete, and the value of information flow has been fully realized. Nevertheless, while technology fostered greater interconnected between nations and businesses, it also caused the atomization of society on an individual level. While people of the past have been well-integrated into the local community, many young men and women these days do not know the names of their neighbors.
The number of true friends has been shrinking, and physical, social networks have been diminishing. As a result, people become more atomized and vulnerable, unable to cope with difficult situations and defending their rights and opinions on a local level (Smith et al. 1028). They have become easier to manipulate, divide, and control.
It is hard to say which of the eventualities causes greater good or harm to humanity. Some researchers state that with the globalization of the market and the increased capabilities of travel, the attachment to localities and communities has become a historical anachronism (Smith et al. 1023). Others state that physical closeness and a sense of belonging is necessary both for the body and the soul. Humanity should strike a balance between the overarching narrative of the world and local community involvement.
Work Cited
Smith, Jonathan, et al. “Digital Socialization: Young People’s Changing Value Orientations Towards Internet Use Between Adolescence and Early Adulthood.” Information, Communication & Society, vol. 18, no. 9, 2015, pp. 1022-1038.