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To begin, defining the term technology is rather a difficult task in itself. According to Misa, technology is as difficult to define as art is. “They have frequently observed that no scholarly historian of art today would feel the least temptation to try to define ‘art,’ as if that complex expression of human creativity could be pinned down by a few well-chosen words.” (Misa 8). According to Misa, the best way to define technology is by examining “...technologies from the perspective of “everyday life” or from a user’s perspective.” (Misa 8). Technology has been transformative to how we do everyday things, the most important technology that gets overlooked is the telegraph. The telegraph is why we have time zones and are able to communicate with each other rapidly then before (Carey 19). The telegraph also did away with the idea that communication was or had to be tied to transportation. “The telegraph ended that identity and allowed symbols to move independently of geography and independently of and faster than transport (Carey 10). Therefore, communication did not have to be synonymous to mail carriers or other modes of transportation that helped communication flow from one place to another. Communication was now free and not restricted to any boundaries. Although, communicating with others became reliable and fast, it also brought communities and cultures together that once was separated because of barriers. Carey explains that because of the telegraph prices on commodity became consistent because the communication between towns became consistent as well. Although, it seems as technology thus far seems to have aided the advancement of civilization, I would like to argue that there's also a downside to all of this as well.

As owning smart technology becomes the symbol of status, one has to ask how far will one go before all this technology is looked more as hamper on society opposed to an advancement? According to Baym a research was conducted which analyzed the benefits of these new medias that have been introduced into society. It found that “...those most able to use new media improve their lives in ways that those who do not use them do not, increasing social and economic disparity” (Baym 20). Technology in general benefits us form day to day, but the question that should be asked is, who does it actually benefit? It’s a fair to assume that those privileged enough are the few who benefit from the increased social and economic disparity. Those who can afford the advancement of technology benefit from it as well, so in a sense an argument could be made that the rapid advancement of technology helps perpetuate the economic oppression that impoverished people find themselves. How can someone impoverished afford the internet if they are struggling to get by? Being able to access these technology is a whole issue in itself but once you own the technology the issue then becomes, how ethical are these platforms?

An argument is made on that these new media platforms are unethical because it is dumbing society. Nick Carr briefly gives an example on how before the internet he would spend hours reading books but now with the new media platforms, he cannot spend more than a couple of minutes off the internet before he is sucked back in (Baym 27). If these media platforms are now becoming a ball and chain strapped around our ankles. It’s noteworthy to take a closer look at these platforms. According to Baym, the internet allows people to become more anonymous and liberates us from titles we would want to do away with. Such as our gender, sexuality, race, economic status, etc., it's a medium that allows you to be who you want to be (Baym 38). Although, this could be a win for justice warriors, it can also cause more harm than good. For example, it could enhance this notion of colorblindness that we have. If people go online ignoring race, it could create bigger problems for face to face interactions. By ignoring race, you’re minimizing the issues of racism and assuming that the long-standing issues of racism are no longer in effect.

Although, the advancement of technology in many cases have aided humanity, it is without to say that it has also created an abundance of issues as well. When the telegraph first made waves, people assumed that would be the end of personal relationships. Now, with the rapid advancement of technology we find ourselves asking if this is the end of the line for intelligence, relationships, etc., with time we will find out the long-term effects of the current technology.