Digital Nation Part 2

After finishing the second part of the Digital Nation documentary I realize how influential the new technologies are in our society. Not only just in the US but all over the world technology is having an incredible effect on our communication skills and norms. In Korea children are now being put into intervention programs to reduce their computer addictive personalities. They cannot remove themselves from the computer games and lose a realistic outlook and connection with the real world. The documentary specifically dealt with one camp where children were sent to reconnect with the real world and old fashioned forms of fun, playing outside, playing board games, using their imagination, etc.

In conjunction with this computer game addiction the documentary discussed these video game centers which work with army recruitment. Many people are very against this approach because video games are not a realistic view of war. I was so blown away and surprised by this new approach, it does help them to recruit new people, but children cannot fully grasp the reality of a real world war situation through a video game. Children should not have to be drawn into war by the unrealistic views of video games which is only fun and games to them.

I do however think that it is naive to think that all of these new technologies are negative and are changing children for the worst. Although technologies have definitely changed our society without a doubt it does not mean that this is a negative change. I believe that there will always be new developments and our society with constantly be changing. This does not mean that it is a bad change but it does however mean that we need to be constantly adapting to these changes so that we can use them to our advantage. Every new development we come across will have obstacles but we need to learn to use them to our advantage so that these are tools for growth and not negatives.