Our world now, cannot live without technology. Technology binds us and connects us from each other. It is said that Technological Determinism shapes how we as individuals in a society think, feel, and act — it does. Imagine the 21st century without smartphones, televisions, high tech automatic cars?  it would drive a lot of people mad. It’s not wrong to be dependent on technology, if the society that we live in can develop in positive ways. In technological determinism, we create a whole new culture that includes how we go through our days and tasks with the use of technology. We also create a new environment with the people who go through the same and understand the same living.

            They say that technological innovations are the most important determinant of change in society. Examples such as: Social media – that allowed us to communicate anytime, anywhere. We get too share memories, art, photos. Everyone gets to be updated from different countries and people with a click of a button. We can make friends without having to see them in person with some applications we can find in the app store. Easy say and easy response everywhere. But unfortunately, it narrows our mind to doing one of the most vital forms of communication, which is face-to-face conversations. Electronic media use increases by the year but our social interaction decreases. It may sound cliché but relationships now are hopeless with people depending on social media for affection. The standard starts with how public someone is with their relationship to be complimented as a sweet and thoughtful person which should be based on true efforts with the time someone can give you.

            Another example are cars – they allow us to travel and reach places in an amount of time faster than walking and running. Owning a car is a necessity in our generation. The mindset of people are “once you have a car, you’ll have an easier life”. But the invention of them are now causing a lot of danger. It’s causing global warming with all the pollution cars can make, most specially in every major city we know where, it’s congested with cars and is causing heavy traffic. Not only does it affect the health of people, it mostly triggers the shelters of animals have; Glaciers are melting and bodies of water are disappearing.

Prominent events that are being reported are mainly about violence. An invention that is so deadly yet a lot of people has possession is a gun. We expect that gun owners would are the ones who we can be able to trust with our lives but they’re proving us wrong. Guns are being used as a symbol of strength to people who are powerful enough to make an impression that they could do everything. Marshall McLuhan once said “We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us…” Are the tools invented shaping us to be role models for the future we are starting for others? Are they made to solve problems or are they just making more problems?

The world will never be the same with all the adjustment. They’re all there to amplify human functions. Microscopes for eyes, Knives for fingernails, Computers for brains… and a whole lot more. These technologies are meant to make tasks easier and faster. If we use them for good, it will result to us having more time to rest, interact, and have fun. If we use them for bad, (which most humans won’t even recognize) it will take our whole time and we’ll have sleepless nights, more stress and less conversations. Now, do we really want to have a new culture based on technologies that are dominating humans? It’s always a question. We now live in a world that is revolving around it, we cannot runaway or abandon it anymore because it has become a human essential. It will grow with the people, with us.