Two years ago I led a one-week course on Technology in the Bay Area. The driving question was: Does technology bring us closer together or drive us further apart? Over the course of the week, we talked about many different aspects of technology integration and visited some San Francisco based companies including Lyft and Twitter. We had so much fun.
As recent political events have unfolded this educational experience, our field trip to Twitter and the driving question have started to surface. Today, I reached out to my 8th graders to reflect. What came out of it? They recognized how much has changed. At the time of the trip, Twitter’s policy was to not moderate political leaders. They felt it was important that we see and hear what they were thinking and doing. The fact that two years later we are looking at Trump being taken off the platform seems crazy.
Does technology bring us closer together or drive us further apart? Certainly, this debate still exists for many of us daily. During the last 9 1/2 months, many of us have utilized technology in more ways than ever before. We have needed it to connect with others, to share in moments and celebrations, and for many to stay educated. This list goes on and on. But the fact of the matter is that we can set up systems to help bring us closer together but when abused they can certainly drive us apart. Social media and the overall changes and development in delivering content and information isn’t going away. It’s challenging. But, teaching our youth how to be responsible, see the good, find the balance, and learn how to navigate certainly is a necessity. That’s where I will continue to do my work.