We have a lot to be thankful for. Technology as it changed our lives for the better––in a myriad of ways. But technology does as its pitfalls. For instance, some claim that technology is the robber baron of human creativity. In a recent article by Tristan Harris, a magician and former design ethicist at Google, he claims that technology hijacks the minds of people. He brings up both the positive and negative effects that technology has on people; it takes advantage of our vulnerabilities, and in some instances, it limits our mental skills.
Harris identifies some of the ways by technology can exploit our vulnerabilities and our minds. Product designers are executing their magic tricks to grab attention, and in a way, to fool you. if you take time to think about these things, you’ll realize how technology, especially mobile apps and websites, is not always as benevolent we think it is.
It Presents a Limited Menu
Many apps will present you with a limited menu. With these constrained options, you are not encouraged to use your mind freely. Yes, menus can help us make a decision. But they limit the decisions that we make. We are usually pressured to choose only from what is specified in the menu, and we fail to look beyond or to consider other alternatives.
It Clings Into Us
There is a phenomenon that is known as the Fear of Missing Something Important. This is exactly what websites and apps seek to do to us, especially regarding social media. More often than not, we are over-subscribed. Our life revolves around Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Our emails are filled with messages from websites or businesses we have subscribed to. We fear that there is something we will miss.
It Makes Us Vulnerable to Social Approval
Technology alters our personality. It puts a pressure on us to live a pretentious life just for the sake of feeling like we belong or fit-in with the society. From being tagged in photos to changing your profile picture, social approval is apparent in various ways. Designers exploit our vulnerabilities by forcing us to give in to this social approval.
It Forces Social Reciprocity
As in the case of social approval, technology forces us to do things we may not want to do. When someone adds you in their social media circle, you are forced to accept it. When someone sends an email, you are forced to reply. When someone follows you, you are forced to follow back. It leaves little to the mind to think about. Usually, your response is already set, fearing that responding in a different manner will make you appear rude.