Mentor/s
Sandra Young Brian Stiltner
Participation Type
Paper Talk
Abstract
This paper examines the negative effects of digital technologies on human behavior and cognition. The use of A.I. and algorithms in the technology we utilize everyday have begun to think for us and force us into our own personal filter bubbles, where all the content and information we see on a daily basis is accurately curated to our likes and beliefs which narrows our perception of the truth. This technology is also purposefully made to be addicting so the tech industry can profit off our need to constantly be checking and using our devices for a boost of dopamine and serotonin. Our addiction to this technology that provides short, fast paced content has negatively affected our attention spans and reading comprehensions, subsequently changing the way we learn and understand. The paper also offers a critique of the harmful business model of the tech industry that does not prioritize users and uses unethical means to further their profit. While there are many negative impacts of the digital age we are living in, there is still hope for change through government regulation, public call for the companies to reform, and individual efforts in limiting screen time and platform usage.
College and Major available
Communication Studies BS
Location
Session 4: Martire 3rd Floor Boardroom
Start Day/Time
4-27-2023 11:00 AM
End Day/Time
4-27-2023 12:15 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Prize Categories
Best Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Creative
The Digital Age is Making Us Worse Humans
Session 4: Martire 3rd Floor Boardroom
This paper examines the negative effects of digital technologies on human behavior and cognition. The use of A.I. and algorithms in the technology we utilize everyday have begun to think for us and force us into our own personal filter bubbles, where all the content and information we see on a daily basis is accurately curated to our likes and beliefs which narrows our perception of the truth. This technology is also purposefully made to be addicting so the tech industry can profit off our need to constantly be checking and using our devices for a boost of dopamine and serotonin. Our addiction to this technology that provides short, fast paced content has negatively affected our attention spans and reading comprehensions, subsequently changing the way we learn and understand. The paper also offers a critique of the harmful business model of the tech industry that does not prioritize users and uses unethical means to further their profit. While there are many negative impacts of the digital age we are living in, there is still hope for change through government regulation, public call for the companies to reform, and individual efforts in limiting screen time and platform usage.
Students' Information
Isabella Fabbo
Strategic Communications, PR, & Advertising
Honors Student
2024