Final Blog Post: My Relationship with Technology

In an era where our lives are lived more and more online, the distinction between connection and intrusion is blurring. Having read the Fast Company article "I'm 14, and I Quit Social Media", I couldn't believe how closely I could resonate with the insights of a teenage girl who had chosen to disconnect. A few years younger than me, she had exactly the same sense of tension, comparing oneself unfavorably, and constant pressure that I had experienced from using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Her words led me to question: What am I really getting out of social media, and what am I losing?

One thing I've realized is how much time I spend scrolling — not because I'm really interested in the content, but because it's become a habit, even an addiction. I caught myself that I don't normally feel better after being on social media; instead, I feel drained or dissatisfied. Watching carefully constructed glimpses of others' lives is making me feel like I'm not doing enough, not accomplishing enough, not living right. It's a strange paradox — social media is supposed to connect us, but it makes me feel more alone.

Beyond the cost to my emotional well-being, what's even more disturbing is that I don't own my own data. Reading Facebook Users Still Don't Know in The Atlantic made me see how little I actually know about what I've posted and how it's being used. I used to be like, "I have nothing to hide," but I never thought that my data — my likes, comments, and even the time I look at a post — is being harvested and sold. It's chilling to think about I'm not the consumer; I'm the product.

Far more alarming was the news report about Facebook storing millions of its users' files on Amazon web servers. I've shared my phone number, email address, pictures, and individual opinions on various websites with no qualms. But why? And whom does it actually benefit? I don't feel any safer or closer, definitely.

I don't currently have my own personal website, but I do have active pages on Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. If a visitor did drop by my pages, they would quickly find my school, hometown, hobbies, and social groups. They might even assume my habits or personal problems based on what I've posted or commented on. That's a lot of information to give away for free — and for what? A couple of likes?

This has caused me to completely rethink my entire online presence. Going forward, I will be cleaning up my profiles, disabling unnecessary tracking, and being considerably more mindful about what I'm posting. I'm also considering taking breaks from social media on a regular basis, just in order to reboot.

The truth is, unplugging — even briefly — may be the most freeing thing I can do. Social media may offer connection, but if it's at the cost of my privacy, peace of mind, and time, then perhaps it's time to disconnect in order to really reconnect — with myself, and the world around me.

Living In the Age of AI

Seeing the second half of In the Age of AI was both enlightening and slightly alarming. The documentary shows  the two-sided complexity of artificial intelligence —extreme potential and equally extreme risks. Most striking to me was the fact that AI is no longer science fiction anymore. It's here, it's powerful, and it's reshaping everything — from the global economy to the structure of our daily lives.

One of the insights was the way the labor force is being affected by AI. Automation and algorithms are putting people out of work in ways that many industries cannot compete with, especially in manufacturing and delivery. It's going at a pace that will leave entire communities vulnerable, especially those without education or retraining in digital abilities. It made me have a terrifying thought: are we truly prepared for an AI economy?

But in return, yes, AI has some amazing pluses too. Medical diagnosis, adaptive learning, modeling global warming — the potential to solve some of humanity's most challenging quandaries is available. But only if we make the right decisions about how we use it.

Privacy was the second pervasive theme. The amount of information that AI digests must occur is staggering, and that involves normalization of government and corporate spying. I was most disturbed by the model of China's surveillance apparatus and what implications it would have if replicated as an international export model. It made me revisit what we surrender when convenience outweighs privacy.

National security and identity theft are also among the issues. AI technology in the wrong hands can create deepfakes, spread disinformation, or launch cyberattacks. That needs international cooperation and regulation but right now, it looks like the technology is moving faster than the laws can.

Overall, the documentary reminded me of not just what AI can do, but what it should do and who gets to decide that.