Technology has both positive and negative social impacts. On one hand, it can lead to social isolation, addiction to devices, and negative psychological effects from lack of real-world interaction. However, it can also liberate and connect disadvantaged people, allowing the elderly and disabled to live independently and stay engaged. While technology provides opportunities for connection, overuse may compromise real face-to-face social skills and interaction. Overall, whether technology's impacts are positive or negative depends on how it is used by each individual.

1. the
double
edged
sword

3. Social Isolation

4. Social Liberation

5. Isolation
lack of contact

6. addictions

7. psychological effects

8. heart
palpitations

9. PART TIME JOB

10. conversation connection

11. destroying

13. text shop Facebook
emails

14. eye contact

15. liberation

16. Retirees Grandparents
70
a ticket to independent living

17. extreme disabilities

18. Stephen Hawking
communicating

19. emerging countries
take control

21. Positive

24. Sources
1. Image by Steve Snodgrass. Technology the Double Edged Sword by Nikki Rand 10019573
2. Image by Sebastian Wiertz. As technology becomes more and more prolific, it leads to..
3. Image by Horace Spatula. Social isolation
4. Image by Apal. And social liberation.
5. Image by Tommy Forbes. Isolation “Social isolation is characterized by a lack of contact with other people in normal daily living—
in the workplace, with friends, and in social activities.” (The Conference Board of Canada, 2012)
6. Image by Samuel Ho. People are developing addictions to their digital devices.
7. Image by Jonathan W. 1,000 university students in 10 countries were unable to voluntarily stay away from their devices for 24
hours. “The students had expected to feel frustrated … but they didn’t expect to have the psychological effects… to be lonely, to be
panicked, the anxiety, literally heart palpitations.” (Dakin & Chung, 2011)
8. Image by Shivens. “…to be lonely, to be panicked, the anxiety, literally heart palpitations.”(Dakin & Chung, 2011)
9. Image by Luis Argerich. Internet users spend an average of 17 hours a week online (Is technology harming our communication
skills? Editorial Staff. Northern-Iowan.org. April 2010)
Equal to a part time job (Statistics Canada 2010)
10. Image by Peter Sunna. We are sacrificing authentic conversation for mere connection (The Flight From Conversation. Sherry
Turkle. The New York Times. April 2012)
“What happened to driving in a car and just looking out the window?” (The Addiction, Petter Farrelly. Huffington Post. January
2013)
11. Image by Rishi Bandopadhay. Our technology addictions are destroying our abilities to interact with the outside world.
“Data shows that those who use the Internet frequently spend over 100 minutes less time with friends and family than non-
Internet users” (Mads 2011)
12. Image by Nomadic Lass. “Not too long ago, people walked with their heads up, looking at the water, the sky, the sand and at one
another, talking. Now they often walk with their heads down, typing.” (The Flight From Conversation. Sherry Turkle. The New York
Times. April 2012)

25. Sources
13. Image by Picture Youth. Now, during family meals, board meetings, dates, classes….We text, shop, go on Facebook and read our
emails
14. Image by Piro. “My students tell me about an important new skill: it involves maintaining eye contact with someone while you
text someone else; it’s hard, but it can be done.” (The Flight From Conversation. Sherry Turkle. The New York Times. April 2012)
15. Image by Bill Gracey. On the other hand, technological advances have led to the liberation of many disadvantaged members of
society.
16. Image by Hillary Chang. Retirees and grandparents can stay connected and provide useful services to society even if they are not
physically capable. (By Fabio Sergio. FastCompany. January 2012)
“70 per cent of seniors view technology as a ticket to independent living” (Revera Report on Tech-Savvy Seniors)
17. Image by ChicagoAtNight. People with extreme disabilities are also liberated through technology.
18. Image by Jared Eberhardt. Stephen Hawking has made immense scientific progress despite his motor neuron disease –
communicating only through a speech generating device.
“With the technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded.” – Stephen Hawking, British Telecom advertisement, 1993
19. Image by Tarang Hiran. Technology also allows people who live in emerging countries to take control of their educational and
professional destinies. Numerous start-up web-based businesses today such as CodeAcademy teach people via interactive lessons
how to understand and write software programs. (By Fabio Sergio. FastCompany. January 2012)
20. Image by Jayel Aheram. As you can see, technology allows us to easily connect, to access unlimited information, and to learn
unique skills…
21. Image by Esten Hurtle. Whether that is positive or negative
22. Image by Chakravarthy. Is up to YOU
23. Image by Marcos Ojeda. Credits – All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0
agreement and sourced from flickr