Idea of Progress : to what extent do new technologies affect social life?

Mickaël URIEN

To what extent does new technology affects social contacts ?

I’m going to talk about « Idea of progress ». To begin with, I would like to state a definition of progress : Progress is the idea that the world and the society can evolve positively in therms of sciences, technology, modernization, living condition, etc... However, the idea of progress is still debate between those who consider that it’s beneficial and those for whom it’s harmful. New technology

Now, I propose we look at this issue : « To what extent does new technology affects social contacts ? »

On the one hand, we will see how new technology can create social links between people, how people can help each other by building communauty…

On the other hand, new technology can disassemble people by creating addictions, isolate communauties…

I) New technology bring people together :

        A) People help each other  « Sharing, borrowing and bartering go high-tech »

        B) Consummers regroup to struggle  « Buy nothing day »

        C) Communauties are created   « Amish way of life »

II) But new technology can forsaken consummers :

        A) Addictions appear   « Shopaholic »

        B) People leave this modernity  « Amish way of life »

        C) People want to buy more and more   « I shop therefor I am »

To conclude, I’ll say new technolgy create social links between people, but we have to be careful to doesn’t fall in addictions or debt.

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