Technology and its Impacts on Culture
Introduction
Technological advancements are obsolete; today there is advancement that has been made, tomorrow it is totally out of the market. Furthermore, it might not be pleasing to the customers as they are looking for alternative substitutes of better, more appropriate, and cost-effective in use. The spread of technology has been to the benefit of humankind in many different ways that cannot be exhausted, but it is also considered a contributing factor to the social ills among the young generations. Cable TV, reality shows, movies, music, internet, telephones, computers are some of the technological advancements in the present age that are most associated with the young generation (Hershock, Stepaniants, and Ames 2003). Slack and Wise contend, exposed to them at a tender age, they are unable to control the effects they get from such media sources (2005). Consequently, they end up emulating these traits contrary to the norms of their different cultures. Therefore, this paper looks at the relation and effects that technology has brought to the various cultures drawing conclusions to the conception of the role technology plays in the social settings.
Contemporary Approaches
Technology use in the everyday lives of human beings has been in play for a long time. The changes and inventions of the different versions and modules of the technological devices in the houses cannot be fully comprehended, but their presence among human beings is dependent on the activities people do every day. The onset of the twentieth and the twenty-first century brought into play a different perspective of the role technology plays in the preservation or dilution of culture. With a great friction to fight the dilution of the cultures and traditions, technology still makes way in re-shaping the normal activities (Slack and Wise 2005). The activities are made to be complete faster, be conveniently accomplished, and still there is an option to improve on the outcome during the next attempt. The two centuries are dependent on technological advancements that humankind has less or no control over the changes that are inevitable. It is in the diverse cultures that people learn the language, religion, political opinions, dress customs, and the day-to-day life experiences. Dependence on technology has disrupted the normal adaptation of humankind to the environments that he stays. Additionally, technology has been adapted into the different cultures to create a single multicultural unit. In one aspect, culture dictates the changes in technological advancements.
The changing environments and the different trends in the social environments require the use of a given tool or equipment that if not present will be designed or manufactured to profit people (Hershock, Stepaniants, and Ames 2003). The application of the tool manufactured is completely in the interest of the user to decide. If it is to the demoralization of the morals that his or her culture demands, then it is up to them. On another perspective, technology leads to the changes in the traditions and cultures of people. News and ideologies passed through media, and the films that find their ways in many different places, in the world have shaped a number of practices that the generations have been holding dear. The world of today is considered a global village with a common culture characterized of a multicultural practice that joins different cultures. In this multicultural pool, the less dominant cultures are suppressed by the most dominant. Consequently, the less dominant cultures are forced to adapt the culture of the most dominant culture. American culture being the most popular in the present generation has found its ways to the most remote areas that otherwise, could not have heard about the western culture. Through the powerful satellites, radio waves and TV channels that are accessible even through the internet, America has immigrated to the regions in the world instead of people immigrating to America (Nowotny 2006).
Thus, technology and culture present a complex relation. Both with a direct or indirect effect on the other, it beats the conception that technology is to blame for the changes in the cultures. The role technology plays in shaping cultures is viewed from the perspective that culture influenced the technological changes and that technology influence the cultural changes.
Effects of Technology
When relating technology and culture, is it right, to conclude that, technology is the cause of the various effects of dilution of culture in the world. Is technology to blame for the disruption of social relations in the different regional settings? Alternatively, is the technology shaped by the different perspectives that humankind in different cultures perceive the role it plays? Technology has been attributed as a major step in the present generation to getting tasks done. Communication has been made easier, faster and accurate through the invention of phones. Distance no longer is an impediment to the distribution of information compared to the past generations. Business interviews, meetings, and sales can be completed online instead of sending memos to the board members to meet at a given time. Internet and the social websites have interlinked the different parts of the world in ways no one could ever imagine (O’Loughlin 2010). Generic modifications have resulted to the production of better and nutritious foods, which have enabled prevention of diseases commonly associated with lack of certain nutrients in the foods. Computer technology adopted in nearly all sectors, in the present world, and industries are attributed to the reduced cases of accidents and hazards that are caused by human errors. Use of technology in the building, design, planning, and assembling of industry products have produced immeasurable issues that human labor could not match. Computer technology provides for an opportunity to identify the flaws in the designs, test the product before it is released to the consumers.
Nonetheless, technological changes have not only brought positive results in the lives of people, but also there are the flaws that are socially considered a resultant consequence from technological advancements (Shaw 2008). The pop culture, a revolutionary lifestyle popular among the young generation is a contributing factor to many social evils that the present generation experiences. Rock and pop music are characterized by themes of violence, ignorance, disrespect, and breaking away from the social ties. The young generation regards the cultural bonds a confinement of the freedom that they deserve. Gangs have been formed, which are a leading cause for juvenile correctional facilities, the increased drug abuse among teens, and the rising rate of deaths of the young population.
The ever-changing fashion and designs in the western countries have corrupted the moral dressings of both young generations both male and female. The teens dress the way their favorite musician dresses. Clothing that portray a teen’s self-respect is related to a student or teen who is not ‘cool’ in school or a group. Different ideologies and discussions regarding the community governance and the relationships have also been disrupted with the passing of information from one region to another. Different cultures regard sexuality as a tying bond between married couples. The moral of individuals in the society is to portray their respect to the morals of the community (O’Loughlin 2010). However, the different ideologies that are supported in other parts of the world are passed to diversified individuals who accept or reject them. Homosexuality and lesbianism have been a critical topic of discussion, which many cultures rejected, but still they have found ways into the same cultures.
These effects of technology have altered the basic units of the society structures. Families the basic unit of the society is given less time and commitment. Instead of the family gatherings and personal touch, that forms the basis of unity, phones, social sites and computers have replaced their roles. Technology has spread the cultures of other regions while other cultures learn from the dominant cultures (Hershock, Stepaniants, and Ames 2003). Much time is spent on TV sets compared to the time spent in spiritual matters or society concerns. Instead, to ‘save’ on time and effort, as excuses given, the meeting proceedings are recorded and then watched at one’s own free time. With time, the essence of attending gatherings of the community and other social gatherings is lost and instead replaced by the pleasures that technology offers at the comfort of the viewer. The internet and social media sites have distorted the interpersonal relationships with the ability to understand one another destroyed. Instead of meeting for a one-on-one meeting, people communicate, make plans, and even make decisions online. The lack of restrictions, privacy, and consequences when using the internet, however, has led to the demoralization of traits that children are introduced to at tender ages. Thus, technology forms a complement structure in the culture. Their effects inter-related make it even harder to control the effects that one has on the other (Shaw 2008).
Conclusion
It is evident the extent to which technological changed have shaped culture in the present generation. Nevertheless, it should be noted that in another aspect, the shifting environments that cultures exist in, have a direct effect to the changing technology. Thus, technology and the different cultures have found a way to co-exist with each having a direct or indirect effect to the advancement of the other. The co-existence referred to as techno-culture helps understand the situations that are presented in the generation, which embraces both technology and culture as key components in the changes that are evident with or without human control. As everyday living conditions are made comfortable by the use of technology, traditions are replaced with the new ideas and processes. As a result, the future still portrays the existence of technological changes that will still come, making it the responsibility of every individual to decide their actions concerning technological evolutions and the cultures. It is, therefore, an obligation of every person to determine their discernment of what role technology plays in their normal activities and use it to the positive effect in their moral stand.

Reference List
Hershock, P. D., M., T. Stepaniants, and R. T. Ames. 2003. Technology and Cultural Values: On the Edge of the Third Millennium. 8th ed. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press.
Nowotny, Helga. 2006. Cultures of Technology and the Quest for Innovation. 1st ed. Oxford, New York: Berghahn Books.
O’Loughlin, John. 2010. The Importance of Technology to the Transcendental Future. 1st ed. London, United Kingdom: Centretruths Digital Media.
Shaw, D., B. 2008. Technoculture: The Key Concepts. 1st ed. Oxford, New York: Berg Publishers.
Slack, D. J. and J. M. Wise. 2005. Culture + Technology: A Primer. Broadway, New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc.