It’s not uncommon to be out and about or in a social setting and become curious about where you’ve seen a particular actor, what the name of a specific song is, where a city or country you’ve never heard of is located, what a certain sports stat is, or a number of other wonderings, and you simply plug your question into Google and get an instant answer.
It’s convenient and has become second nature for many people who have the luxury of having phones or other devices with them at almost all times. Life hasn’t always been so instantly informative, though, and more individuals have become reliant on the information now available to them at any given moment. A recent study by Penn State University revealed that 77 percent of individuals believe that society, as a whole, overly depends on technology on a daily basis.
However, for some people, it’s necessary in their careers and other aspects of their lives, even if they spent time in their younger years without such technological advantages. Dallas-area resident Megan England, a high school teacher, said she is frequently able to compare technology usage from years ago to now.
“Overall, I cannot be productive at my job without technology because education is very dependent upon it,” she said. “If the Wi-Fi goes down on campus, many teachers simply throw in the towel for the day.”
In her own daily life, England said she relies on the internet to stay both informed and entertained and typically looks at her phone shortly after waking up each morning.
“I check the weather, I skim my Associated Press app for headlines, and I stream music while I’m getting ready for the day,” she said.
The internet and other forms of technology not only allow more individuals to remain informed but also provide them several options for simple fun and enjoyment. Dallas-area resident Ivan Alonzo said he appreciates having access to various devices and gadgets that become available as technology continues to evolve.
“I have always been drawn to tech toys—always reaching for the latest and greatest,” he said. “That is still very true today. The biggest difference is that I can now buy bigger and better toys as a grown-up.”
However, Alonzo said he does believe that he relies on the internet far more than he would prefer.
“I need it for everything—work, communicating with friends and family, consuming news, sending useless GIFs of cats, and everything in between,” he said. “If the internet is down, I am forced to use my phone’s hotspot. And if that’s not working, are you even living?”
Not everyone fully embraces the changes that technology and the internet have brought to people’s daily lives. Dallas resident Jenny Schultz acknowledges that her life now is completely different technology-wise than it was when she was a kid, but she is grateful she didn’t have immediate access to as much as she does currently.
“I was so lucky to grow up without social media and the internet and technology invading every aspect of my life,” she said.
And although Schultz said she uses the internet all of the time because it’s where most of the information and entertainment are these days, she believes that could absolutely survive and function without it.
“I still love making phone calls and can check a local paper and read a map,” she said. “Sign me up—I am ready to go back to the ‘80s and ‘90s.”
Although he enjoys being able to benefit from the convenience of the internet, like Schultz, Alonzo also thinks that he would function alright if he didn’t have access to it.
“Having grown up during the ‘boom’ of the internet, I am fortunate enough to have developed the skill sets to manage without it,” he said. “I’m almost certain that it would be painful to readjust to deal without it, but ultimately, I would be able to manage just fine.”
Reliance upon the internet can also depend upon an individual’s generation, as those who are part of the Gen Z group have grown up in a Google-filled world. One study found that almost half of Gen Z participants would not be able to go more than four hours without the internet without feeling uncomfortable. That could also be contingent upon the situation, though. University of Texas at Austin student Mithra Cama said she is perfectly capable of going without the internet in certain circumstances but might struggle in others.
“I’ve experienced situations like camping and being in another country with no service, and I’ve been fine,” she said. “I think in a situation where I’m surrounded by people I know and things to do, I don’t even think about the internet. However, on a regular day as a student, I don’t think I could effectively function more than a few days without the internet. So much of my daily life, including completing assignments and attending online classes, relies on the internet. Without it, I would fall behind and struggle to perform daily tasks.”
Cama also said she frequently uses and relies on the internet not only for accessing lessons, turning in assignments, and researching topics but also for entertainment purposes, such as listening to music, watching TV through streaming services, and using social media. Essentially, it’s in most aspects of her life.
“The internet is how I find recipes, manage my calendar, check my work schedule, and navigate with a GPS to get anywhere,” she said. “I search practically every question I have on Google and am probably even more dependent on it than I realize.”
England said she thinks that she certainly could survive without the internet, but she doesn’t know that she would want to have to do so, especially during her break from the school year.
“During the summertime, I enjoy streaming shows and playing games on my phone,” she said. “I can easily transition (and often do) to a book and relax on the couch. However, my busy mind always jumps off the page, and I find myself googling about the author’s background or how far the locations the main character traveled are from each other. I enjoy how the internet supplements my wandering mind.”
Needless to say, the 2020s are far different than years that begin with a 19 and even than the early 2000s. People are able to stay connected with each other in several ways—whether through texting, DMs, other forms of app chats, and several online communication outlets—and Alonzo said the majority of consumer products are intentionally designed in ways that require not necessarily human connection but also internet connection.
“Everything is ‘smart’ nowadays,” he said. “While it is nice to have the convenience to be able to communicate or connect with certain products (e.g., thermostats, cameras, garage doors, locks), not everything needs to be smart. It’s hard to say if it’s manufacturers that are pushing the need for smart or consumers forcing their hands. Unfortunately, I don’t see things slowing down. We’ll inevitably get additional smarter toasters in the years to come.”
While the internet and various forms of technology are more part of our world than Ariel was of Prince Eric’s, each individual is able to choose the level of his or her use and time spent putting away the phone, computer, and other tech devices (outside of requirements of one’s career or other obligations).
“I think so many people are dependent on technology because it has managed to bleed into every aspect of our lives,” Schultz said. “I get made fun of for keeping a paper calendar and writing checks. I am proud to still carry cash and know where my old Mapsco is.”
But as England pointed out, the internet and people’s reliance upon it shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a bad thing. Rather, she said she believes that it should more so be embraced and accepted in the same way people embrace and accept other forms of technological advances.
“The internet is no different from cars, indoor plumbing, electricity, etc.—no one criticizes being dependent on these things,” she said. “I think the difference from those examples to current technology is that current technology takes off a mental workload versus enhancing comfort. In reality, the old saying is true—everything in moderation.”
WEEKLY PHOTO OP
.jpg)
NatNews staff members and some dear readers said “see you later” to Julie and Andre Lanaux, who will represent our dear readers well in Puerto Rico