Reflection 1: Is it sustainable that we continue on our current path of technological development?

Description

In light of the rapid development of technology over the past 15 years, research has identified a number of areas in which the influence of this technology has proven to be detrimental. The question of sustainability seems an obvious one; with these negative trends identified in such a short period of time, how could staying on this path as a broader society be sustainable?

Feelings

Questions like ‘Is it sustainable that we continue on our current path of technological development?’ do not appropriately address the reality that digital devices with the ability to access the internet have become inextricably entwined in modern life for the majority in developed countries. Whether in the home or workplace, we rely more and more on these technologies every day; you needn’t look further than the ever-increasing profits of the tech sector to confirm the populations hunger to engage with these technologies. In conversations surrounding technological development, I believe we need to reframe our questions from an “Is it sustainable?” framework to “How can we make it sustainable?”

Evaluation

One of the major arguments against the sustainability of technological development has been the effect on emotional development and mental health of a population saturated with digital technology. Meta faced a series of lawsuits alleging that prolonged exposure to their social media platforms caused “actual or attempted suicides, self-harm, eating disorders, severe anxiety and depression and issues with sleep — all in the name of higher profit margins” (Langone et al. 2022). 

Analysis

It is important to consider the role that big tech companies like Apple, Google and Facebook play when considering the question of sustainability; the products and technologies being researched, developed and marketed by these (and other) companies ultimately define the digital technology landscape. These companies look to maximise user engagement wherever possible, with methods being hotly debated amongst lawmakers and commentators. The sharing and selling of user data is one such method, with critics arguing that “companies have to be prodded to adopt” effective privacy policy (“Your Data Is Shared and Sold“, 2019).  

While governments have begun to implement more effective data privacy policy, including Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Vanberg (2020) argues that these privacy policies are only “one piece of a larger puzzle”. We can find many examples of governments kowtowing to big tech companies, with one report in 2016 finding that “Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon Web Services and Facebook have received more than $2 billion in government subsidies”. (Gehrke, 2016). In any case, it is clear that government will play a vital role in facilitating a sustainable digital landscape.

Conclusion

It is difficult to deny the detrimental effects that the rapid increase in technological development has presented; studies confirm that attention span, emotional development and sleep quality have been notably affected by our increased engagement with digital technologies. Unfortunately, with the rapid implementation and uptake of these technologies, and the power that tech companies hold in our new landscape, it is equally difficult to suggest that this trend will or even can be curbed. Rather than asking if technological development is sustainable, we should question how we can ensure that it is sustainable; while a concrete solution will be difficult to formulate, governments can play a significant role by understanding the present digital landscape and ensuring that powerful tech companies are appropriately regulated.

Reference list

Gehrke, R. (2016, October 12). Study shows how governments kowtow to tech giants, points to West Jordan Facebook bid. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4452659&itype=CMSID

Langone, A,. Wong, Q. & Reichert, C. (2022, June 8). Meta facing 8 lawsuits that allege its addictive algorithms harm young users. https://www.cnet.com/news/social-media/meta-facing-8-lawsuits-that-allege-its-addictive-algorithms-harm-young-users/ 

Vanberg, A. D. (2021). Informational privacy post GDPR - end of the road or the start of a long journey? The International journal of human rights, 25(1), 52-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2020.1789109

Your data is shared and sold… What’s being done about it? (2019, October 28). Knowledge at Wharton. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/data-shared-sold-whats-done/