Technology, Bringing Us Together One World at a TIme

I can harldy remember my life before I had a computer. Even less of what it was like before I got a cell phone. Technologies such as these have brought us together, shortening the distance between family and friends. The internet in particular has brought countries, nations, the world as close together as a click away. People around the world who feel alone can go online and meet new people in chat rooms or blogging sites. People who don't have the ability or resources to leave their homes or towns, can explore and interact with the world on the World Wide Web.

I thought Holzschlag's article on "social networking" was very interesting. I agreed with her saying that, "Most people seek connection. In fact, most people require some kind of need to bond with others. Some of us have a significant need to create community or—at the very least—some kind of shared experience." Her thoughts on how programs like AOL Instant Messenger, newsgroups, and peer-to-peer technologies are bringing comunities closer together who share common interests. People who feel ostrasized for their beliefs can now talk with others with similar views online without fear of rejection or hatred. Blogging websites (once thought to be near extinction) are growing in popularity as the technology makes it easier and easier for people to post and comment blogs. Sites like Facebook and Myspace have grown by leaps and bounds, with tons more people joining each day. People are able to find old school buddies whom they had lost contact with over the years. You can post messages, photos, movies, join various groups and create events all on Facebook. Another example of how technology is bringing the real world and the World Wide Web together.

I think many people believe that this merging of society and technology is a good thing, but is it really without consequence? According to the article, Digital Divide? It's Still There, while the net has brought us closer together, "us" is mainly white people, with minorities still lagging behind in joining the technological world. "Two of every three white students — 67 percent — use the internet, but less than half of blacks and Hispanics do, according to federal data released Tuesday. For Hispanics the figure is 44 percent; for blacks, it's 47 percent."
This minority barrier is an issue today, but as more and more people "join the club" and technology increases, this barrier will one day soon be torn down, and the whole world will be connected. But with the world being shrunk down so much, will there still be room for us to hide when we want some privacy? Or will it be impossible to espace from the digital world where all your information is stored on the internet for all the see if they wish. The most disturbing possible effect that comes to mind is the world slowly becoming like the Borg in Star Treck. A collective hive mind where everyone knows where and what everyone else is thinking and all forms of privacy and free thought have dissapeared. "Resistance is futile."