How technology contributes to the degradation of morals in society

Introduction

            Since the industrial evolution, Humanity has made various technological inventions that seek to make life safer, more convenient and suitable for people in different aspects of society. In an attempt to enhance the efficiency of processes, technology has been incorporated into various aspects of society such as education, manufacturing, transport, medicine and even the military to mention a few. Doctors rely on machines to diagnose patients while the transport and manufacture industry rely on different types of machines to make the processes smoother, safer and more convenient for human beings. New inventions and innovations are developed on a daily basis as human beings seek out more ways to use technology to better their lives. However, despite various measures and research being conducted to ensure that the incorporation of technology into human activities yields positive results, there are occurrences where the different inventions achieved through technological advancements have negative outcomes either intentionally or by accident. The various technological advancements have also exposed society to vices that would otherwise not have occurred if the technology had not been adopted in society. The negative outcomes are often as a result of the misuse of technology, exploitation by individuals seeking to cause damage or through poor implementation and adoption of technology. Although technology has a lot of advantages, its use in society has led to the degradation of morals as it exposes people to harmful and immoral content and environments, they would not have had access to without the intervention of technology.

Problem statement

            The negative impact arising from the use of technology in society is as a result of the access and convenience that technology creates not just at the community level but on a global scale. Through technology, people can communicate across geographical barriers that made such interactions difficult in the past (OECD, 2016). The fast access is facilitated by the world wide web, a means of communication that links people through devices such as smart phones, tablets and computers. The fast access makes it possible for someone in a remote place such as developing countries in Africa to reach someone in a country as far away as Asia or Europe. The connection usually occurs instantly and this allows communication between the parties involved both through video and audio. The access to information and people that is established through technology has made it easier for people to spread their influence, both good and bad, and this is the major reason why technology is major contributor of degradation of morals in today’s society (Westera, 2013). The negative impact of technology is however as a consequence of how people choose to use the technology, they have access to. Whenever technological advancements occur, a lot of emphasis is placed towards bringing people closer together to aid in communication and human interactions. This however has a negative outcome especially in cases where people use technology to share ideas and spread propaganda.

The degradation of morals is also as a result of the content that is made available through the various forms of technology. Since technology is incorporated into different aspects of technology, its impact is different depending on the form of technology used (OECD, 2016). The correlation between technology and degradation of morals will therefore focus on the different forms of technology and how their use in society has led to the degradation of morals and the spread of unethical behaviour.

• The Internet

The internet is one of the greatest technological advancements in society today. Its use was made popular by the dominance of computers and innovation of smartphones and laptop computers (Westera, 2013). Computers have changed how society functions as the devices are found in almost all sectors in the community. Hospitals, schools, hotels and different industries rely on computers to handle basic tasks such as keeping records and compiling data. With the introduction of the internet however, their functions extended to other parts of society such as business, entertainment and communication. Their popularity is as a result of the fast access that they provide, making it possible for people to communicate in real time regardless of the distance separating the two parties (Gordon & Burckhart, 2014). The internet offers an unlimited amount of information which is greatly helpful to students, doctors, and various professions as the information is readily available over the web.

      Before technological interventions, learning in developing countries often occurred in schools where content was carefully filtered before being made accessible to students and teenagers. Elders, parents and caregivers bore the responsibility of sourcing research materials such as books (Valkenburg & Piotrowski, 2017). Learning therefore focused on helping the youth gain more knowledge and acquire skills needed to become successful citizens. The absence of communication also meant that interaction was engaged in at a community level and interaction across different countries was rare. With the introduction of computer technology however, learning has taken on a rather freelance approach where students can access information they originally got from their parents and peers by searching on the internet (Valkenburg & Piotrowski , 2017). Through computers, the youth no longer need guidance from their parents or caregivers as the information is readily available on the internet.

The negative outcome is therefore as a result of how easily people can access content from the internet. Unlike in the past where immoral publications could be destroyed and access to such information curtailed by parents and teachers, the internet gives unrestricted access to sites that offer misleading and immoral content such as pornography. Access is further enhanced through the various devices that can be used to access the internet (Dutton, 2013). Devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones are used to access the internet. People are no longer limited to physical locations as the information can be accessed on the go through these devices.

• Music and films

Degradation of morals resulting from the use of technology is also as a result of the content that is found in music and films. Technological advancements have made it possible to share music and videos across different parts of the world. Since different countries have varying definitions of what is considered ethical or immoral, the ability to share such content has led to degradation of morals especially in regions that cannot control what material citizens have access to (Luppicini, 2013). In countries like the United States, issues related to nudity and public display of affection are common. Such behaviours are however unethical and are considered immoral in countries that practise Islam and other religions that are against nudity and provocative behaviour. Since different countries practice different beliefs, geographic barriers ensure that customs and practices from another country do not cross over and influence people in a different country (Luppicini, 2013). While safeguarding a people’s culture is relatively easy within the country, influence from other countries makes it difficult and this attributes to the degradation of morals.

Some of the content in film and music entails content that is only acceptable in one country but would be considered immoral in another. While such content was kept internal due to geographic barriers, the introduction of technology made it possible for people to influence each other’s culture on a global scale (Edgar, 2002). A song produced in the United States for instance can be accessed by an individual in Kenya provided that the individual has access to a computer and access to the internet. Although there are restrictions on the kind of content that is acceptable for release as music in the United States, the criteria for determining this may differ across geographic boundaries (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). Some forms of nudity may be acceptable in the United States but be deemed immoral and unethical in Kenya. However, the organizations that determine the ethics behind music do not necessarily take into consideration the criteria used in other countries because their authority is limited to the country, they operate in.

However, since it is possible to access the same music across the world, the content is exposed to regions that have higher moral restrictions. Nudity is one of the greatest concerns and it is common in both music and films. Music videos from different parts of the world display a lot of nudity and indecent exposure. Films on the other hand are riddled with sex scenes and acts of violence that could be detrimental to the public (Hjorth, 2008). The exposure to music is intensified by the ease of access and the frequency in which the content is made accessible to the public. Since most videos and films contain a lot of sexual content, it communicates to the audience that engaging in such acts is acceptable.

• Video games

The content in video games also has a negative impact on what is considered moral or unethical.  The negative outcome is as a result of the different variations that are used to determine whether specific content is suitable for the public in different countries. While there are games that are designed to entertain and educate, the nature in which the games are played could have negative ramification on their audience especially in games that target teenagers and young adults (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). Some games tend to be violent in nature and could influence the individual to consider violence as a solution to conflict in real life. As is common with most products and services offered through technology, most games are designed to mirror issues that occur in society. Although some exaggerations are used to make the game more captivating, games are designed to be a reflection of what happens in society or events that could occur in the near future.

             Although the decision to make video games resemble society is meant to capture the user’s attention and immerse them in a real-life setting scenario, the approach is greatly to blame for the vices that come about as a result. There are occurrences where users extend their gaming to the real world. The violence instigated in video games has been attributed to the tendency of users to engage in violent acts even in the real world (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). Advancements in technology have led to the introduction of virtual reality where the user is immersed into the gaming world to make the experience more real. In the case where the user’s mind is not yet fully developed as in the case for children and teenagers, the influence could be extended to the real world as they are in an age that makes it difficult to differentiate the two. Users could result to using violence to settle disputes similar to how they do in games (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). In cases where games have promiscuous and sexual content, the virtual reality makes the impact more severe as the user is immersed in an environment that appears real but in the safety of a videogame. The freedom created allows the user to engage in unethical and immoral act without fearing the consequences of the real world (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). However, since the games mirror what happens in society, the influenced over prolonged use could create a scenario where the user engages in a way similar to the video game even when dealing with real; life situations.

Solution

The correlation between technology and the role it plays in degrading morals in society is greatly as a result of the access that people have. The ability to access unlimited content from sources spread out across the world makes it difficult to regulate the content in the information shared, this is especially because different countries operate under different ethical guidelines and moral considerations (Bahloul & Graham, 2012). Since an act may be deemed acceptable in one country and immoral in another, the solution to reduce the role that technology plays in degrading morals should be one that controls access to the products and services made available through technology.

The most ideal solution to reduce the impact that technology has on degradation of morals is to enact a universal code of conduct that governs the use of technology. The degradation of morals is mainly because different countries have a different definition of what qualifies as moral or immoral. While attempts are made to ensure that technology is used in ethical and moral ways, the restrictions are mostly meant to protect the interest of people in a specific country. Game developers for instance take into account the needs of the target audience in the country or market that they operate in (Hargrave & Livingstone, 2009). Since different countries have different customs and beliefs, some games may contain content that is acceptable in one region but deemed unethical in another. The same applies to music and film where some lyrics and video may be acceptable in one country but come out as vulgar and immoral in another region.

A universal code of conduct is an ideal solution as it would take into account the ethical implications of how technology is used and factor in ethical considerations of different regions before making a products or service available through technology. A similar approach is used to safeguard human rights. Although countries have different laws and regulations to govern themselves and their citizens, there are universal rights that are protected for all individuals regardless of what country they come from. Under the universal rights and freedoms, crimes such as rape, murder and racism are treated with the same intensity regarded of geographic location. The universal protection further protects people from oppression not only in their country of origin but also when visiting other countries. The same approach can be used where the universal code of conduct is used to determine how technology is used and then stipulating guidelines to ensure that the products and services attributed to technological use do not degrade people’s morals.

Implementation

            The universal code of conduct can be implemented by the government in different countries and organizations responsible for technological innovations and inventions. Since most of the technological innovations occur in the developed countries, they are in a position to enact laws and policies to implement and regulate the universal code of conduct (Faust, 2019). Organizations responsible for inventing the technology can also come up with ways to regulate the use and the ease in accessing sites that degrade morals such as pornography sites. The policies enacted in the universal code of conduct should factor in the customs and traditions of the regions that will be able to access the technology and services provided through it. The policies should then be structured in such a way that they limit access to sites that are restricted in specific regions and also filter information to ensure that the ideas that exist in one country do not negatively impact people in a different nation.

            The proposed solution is however likely to face challenges in the implementation phase especially when determining what is moral and unethical in different countries. This is especially in cases where the technology itself is nor responsible for the negative outcome. A lot of research will be required in order to come up with a universal code of conduct that pays attention to the ethical and moral considerations of different regions (Faust, 2019). The challenge is further intensified by the reality that some of the morals and ethics are determined by stereotypes that are not necessarily true. The information required to come up with a universal code of conduct to govern over the use of technology is likely to be immense and a lot of research will be required before a universal code of conduct is reached.

Benefits

            Although establishing a universal code of conduct will require a lot of manpower and research, it will create an environment where technology is used for its intended purpose and limit the spread of influence. The code of conduct will make it difficult for influence to spread from one country to another as the content transferrable from one country to another will be determined by the governments involved. Countries will be in a better position to prevent inappropriate content such as violent games, indecent content and nudity from being easily accessible in regions that are against such content. The code of conduct will also ensure that companies responsible for designing content such as video games and films are aware of the restrictions that exist in the region, they intend to make their products available. In addition, the universal code of conduct will raise accountability as each region will be responsible for the content it makes available. Inventors will operate under guidelines that ensure that the end product achieves its intended purpose and there is lesser likelihood that technology can be used to degrade morals.

Conclusion

            The positive impact of technology is watered down by the negative outcomes that result from its use. Although computers enhance communication and improve the efficiency of processes, they also make it easier to access pornographic content and other forms of nudity. The ease in which technology offers access to such information is the reason behind why technology is a major contributor of degradation of morals in society. Through it, people access more information and content that is immoral and this has attributed to the degradation of morals. However, since the use is the problem rather than the technology itself, a solution that seeks out to control the content shared across countries could help remedy the problem and this can be achieved through the enactment and implementation of a universal code of conduct to govern the use of technology and content shared through it.

 

 

 

 

References

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