Technology's Relationship With Us

My relationship with technology started when I was fairly young however, it was very limited. When i was around the age of ten I was gifted a leapfrog Ipad that aloud me to play educational games to further my learning. My first instance with a phone was in middle school where I was given an iPod Touch first in the sixth grade to text my parents. The following year I was introduced to a real phone where I could call and have social media apps like snapchat. Compared to my friends at the time I was late to the technology trend. Many others had obtained their phones in the fifth and even forth grades. However, this was mainly so they could communicate with their parents for school or sports. 

In more recent years many new parents have also introduced technology to their children but not in the same ways our parents did for us. iPads and iPhones are given at extremely younger ages and the amount of time exposed to them is not limited. They also have no limits on the technologies themselves exposing children to dangers of the internet and social media. This has caused many children to become out of touch with their environments, lack patience, and lack listening skills. The way this new generation socializes is also being impacted and increasing cyberbullying cases. 

Back home I have a few cousins that are apart of the new generation and have been heavily exposed to technology. When I babysit them i take advantage of our time together by engaging with them in ways that do not include technology. If we go out to eat no technology is aloud to come along or be at the table. I try engaging them with drawing and toys. If we are to be playing with technology I like to do it through simple video games like Mario Kart where they still have to engage with those in person with them.

I believe that as our society grows younger generations are going to continue to be exposed to technology but as mentors we should be doing our best to slowly integrate it into their lives. New parents should continue what our parents did and only provide Ipads and Iphones at middle school age and for educational purposes as well. They should also have internet limitations and not allow social media accounts till older. Today there are many studies that have proven the negative impact of social media and we should take this advice and apply it to how we raise our children. 

Technology is something that is going to continue to be heavily in our lives. Everyday I am on my phone
either communicating with friends or scrolling on social media. Furthermore, I am a communications major that is heavily invested in using technology for school. However, there are some ways I have limited my exposure to technology. I started a year ago turning off all social media notifications on my phone. This has limited my screen time majorly and has given me more control over when I go on my phone instead of the other way around. I have also recently have tried to not go on my phone right before I go to bed and instead I will read a chapter of my book. The first step to distancing yourself with technology is to gain control back from it. Once your in charge of when you engage with your phone then it stops controlling your every day routine. It may be difficult in the beginning but once you begin the more free you feel. 

EOTO Terms and Concepts

The social credit system was implemented in 2014 and was designed to make sure individuals and businesses in China comply with the country’s laws and regulations. This system gives individuals, business, and government entities a credit score based on their trustworthiness. It is based on many data points, from financial creditworthiness to social factors such as honesty, hard work, and devotion to family. The goal of the Chinese social credit system is to regulate social behavior and ensure that those being documented remain “trustworthy” through actions like paying taxes on time, maintaining proper licenses, abiding by the law, and more. 

However, China also has nation and regional blacklists that are based on individual violations. If one has a poor score their ability to travel, gain employment, or access credit can be impacted. Before one is placed on a blacklist they are first placed on an irregularity list to give the business an opportunity to improve their score and reputation. Once placed on a blacklist, it is hard to be removed; one must submit an application and it can take up to two to five years to be removed. 

Some positives of this system include its emphasis on the individual’s contribution to making society function well and the importance of good character. Furthermore the system holds citizens and companies accountable. Many articles state that this new system could increase safety in China and fight corruption since all companies including government agencies will be held accountable. However, some have raised concerns that this new system may be considered video monitoring and an invasion of privacy. Another concern also surrounds the algorithm used could perhaps have miscalculations and scoring mistakes that could penalize people unfairly. 

Even though there’s no evidence yet that this system has been abused for widespread social control it still remains possible that it could be used to restrict individual rights. The system may be created to sustain a more safe society but once its implemented the line between consequences for business and consequences for individuals could become blurry. Furthermore, evidence indicates that once established with a bad social credit score one is stuck with this burden. This idea could grow out of hand and could becoming threatening to the individual right.

https://velocityglobal.com/resources/blog/chinese-social-credit-system/#:~:text=China%27s%20social%20credit%20system%20gives,credit%20and%20fewer%20business%20opportunities

https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/11/22/1063605/china-announced-a-new-social-credit-law-what-does-it-mean/