The Rise and Consequences of the Information Age

    Over the last 2000 years, humanity has progressed rapidly from sticks and stones to hydraulic presses, 3D printing, and even spaceflight. If someone from even 100 years ago was somehow transported to today, they would be amazed at all of our achievements architecturally, culturally, technologically, and our luxuries. After spending some time getting over their awe, people would realize that our progress has also led to some consequences for all its benefits. We love technology. Technology has made our lives easier both in the working world and in the privacy of our own homes, and yet, we can barely recognize the consequences, let alone address them.

    First, before looking at these consequences, we need to look back at history and compare what life was like. To think that just 100 years ago, we did not have computers, ships still ran on coal, airplanes had just been developed, and Detroit was an economic powerhouse. This was when some semblance to our modern lifestyles began with long-distance communication infrastructures such as the invention and use of the telegram, cars were mass-produced by Ford, skyscrapers were erected, and culture flourished with Jazz music, swing, and movies becoming popular. America underwent the first civil war before expanding to what it is today, Napoleon was attempting to conquer all of Europe, Germany didn’t exist, and Asia was either in isolation or suffering natural disasters or famines. This is the point at which any similarity to how we live today ends as luxuries that we would consider basic today like clean water, sanitation, and heating were all but reserved for the rich and powerful. Three hundred years ago, Feudalism reigned across Europe and Asia, the first republics and fundamental freedoms began to gain influence, and the industrial revolution began. Jobs shifted from small workshops with a master and apprentice relationship to the grueling and dangerous factories. Looking back 1000 years, the Dark Ages were in full swing with practically all knowledge of this time being lost, the standard of living was abysmal, and entertainment or freedom was almost unheard of. As horrible as these conditions were then, it is hard to imagine that life being better than what we have today. However, the rapid advancement of technology has caused some rather unique problems that we have yet to address as a society.

    One could argue that as this modern 21st century was just kicking off Steve Job’s Apple Computer, Inc.’s BIG “Think different” ad campaign was laying the groundwork for a technology-driven culture war that exists in so many dimensions of our society in 2021. Apple’s behemoth “Think Different” advertising campaign, which remains ongoing, combined with its world-changing iPhone smartphone product line together have done more to impact the quantity and quality of human communication in this technology age we are immersed in. We face so many conundrums as a result of the rise of such technology. In particular, while many people may be communicating more frequently and with a broader number of individuals who are connected via “smart” communication devices, it is questionable if the quality of communication is also being increased or if it has been diminished in significant ways.  Today, entire communication exchanges occur regularly on smartphones using emoticon symbols that strike a resemblance to the languages written in stone thousands of years ago. Today’s technology-driven social media communication platforms also seem to be contributing to more surface-level exchanges, often of the inflammatory type, versus deep exchanges of thought or critical thinking about culturally important issues. America may have already passed the crossroad where one common language was promoted and accepted for the common good of a nation. America is fast becoming a challenged nation as we become more and more divided racially, economically, culturally, and politically. For example, the 2021 Academy of Motion Pictures’ Academy Awards ceremony recently experienced yet another year of tremendous decline in viewership, suggesting that large swaths of Americans even have a problem with entertainers being active in a culture war.  Last, a significant number of America’s most powerful corporations are now actively and controversially engaging in our expanding culture war, even as these corporations employ more and more technology to automate work processes that reduce their human workforce, causing more strain in the technology-driven culture wars.

    

    One constant throughout human history is war and while the methods change, the fundamentals always stay the same. As our advancements in industry, agriculture, and entertainment grew, so did our desire to take from others and the methods to complete such a goal. Eventually, our weapons advanced to such a state that war could no longer be decided by a handful of battles or skirmishes, instead, war required the entire weight of a nation to be levied against its adversaries, be they soldiers or civilians. With the change came horrors against all as giant metal beasts roamed the battlefield, the sky rained explosives fired from artillery far away, snipers struck fear into the hearts of the combatants, and people watched as their homes and cities burned as the air raid siren was blaring in the distance. This mass traumatization of the globe caused many nations to become isolated in a desperate attempt to evade suffering. Others thought that through close cooperation the world could come together and throw off the cycle of endless war, but their dreams were crushed at the outbreak of WW2, the dissolution of the League of Nations, and the current collapse of the UN caused by corruption and genocide. Yet, a handful of nations think that the only way to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity is through the subjugation, reeducation, and destruction of other cultures. Why? Why would any country or, better yet, why would a human think that this is an adequate solution? If a people who have seen hardship and death at the hands of others see the same signs leading up to a repeat, is it a wonder why they would seek to avoid a large and grueling conflict by stopping the problem before it arises? I do not condone war, nor do I seek it, but we must acknowledge that due to the luxuries and all the benefits our technology gives, we have created the very environment and created the very tools required to enact that which we fear most.

“Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could they didn’t stop to think if they should.” – Dr. Ian Malcom from Jurassic Park