Technology and its advancement has always been seen as creating a more and more civilized society. However, with the recent privacy issues with Facebook, that belief is being challenged. In March, news broke that Cambridge Analytica, which is a data firm with ties to President Donald Trump, had access to over 50 million Facebook users’ information without their knowledge. This has caused a massive public outcry, causing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to undergo a ten hour questioning from Congress. This event has made many members of the public realize that they do not have total control of their information and that social media and the internet have made it more difficult to contain their private information. About the scandal, senior Jada Brinson said, “Privacy issues with social media sites like Facebook are very serious problems, but it hasn’t made me view technology in a negative way. I think the pros of technology far outweigh the cons. While it is something that needs to be fixed, it doesn’t make me think of technology as something that’s evil. It’s just a matter of how we are using it, and if it’s contributing something good to the world, which I think it does plenty of.”

 However, advancing technology does not only change the public access to privacy. With the recent boom of smart speakers, such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, people are beginning to wonder as artificial intelligence becomes more and more ingrained into daily life, how will that change day to day life? It is predicted that soon you will be able to ask artificial intelligence devices simply “what is the news?” and they will give you the main points of what the headlines are that day. Now, to some, this can seem extremely appealing, but this poses multiple problems. It eliminates the incentive to check multiple sources, making the news that is being received less reliable. This would also make it easier for government to censor what news is being distributed because everyone’s news will be coming from one source.

 However, one of the greatest technological advancements, the Internet, is said to be saving creativity. Through the internet, filmmakers, writers, artists, and creators of all kinds now have access to other creators across the world, who they can connect with and learn from. Platforms such as YouTube and Wattpad have also made it easier for creator to publish their work in order to gain and grow their audiences, as well as being able to make money by building a large enough audience. This is especially important as censorship and suppression of creativity around the world is being used more and more around the world, the internet allows creators to connect and help one another.

 There are practically endless lists for the pros and cons of being a more technologically advanced society. No matter what your feelings about it are, the most important thing is to stay aware of what you are using and where it is coming from.