Canary in the coal mine

Neil Postman recognized that the advent of new technologies brings forth new challenges. He entitled his presentation “Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change” and asserted that an understanding of these concepts would aid us in navigating the effects of technology on our lives.

The first critical point he presents is that every new technology entails trade-offs. While such technology may offer us certain advantages, it simultaneously detracts from other aspects. In our previous class discussion, we examined how technology influences human behavior, both positively and negatively. An illustrative example that springs to mind is that of my mother’s current living situation. My mother, who is now 92 years old, resides in a senior living facility. Throughout the pandemic, many residents of the facility refrained from interacting with one another due to concerns regarding illness. My mother hails from an era when face-to-face interaction was vital for fostering a healthy community. I recall her recounting how the family would bond over music played on the farm. She has shown little interest in acquiring contemporary technologies such as web conferencing, email, texting, and many others. Though the telephone proved to be somewhat useful, its utility was limited due to her hearing impairment, even with hearing aids. Furthermore, she did not possess a smartphone, and her poor eyesight made texting impractical as well. To alleviate the loneliness she both experienced and observed among her fellow residents during the pandemic, she began to play the piano in the entrance area. Quite quickly, residents gathered to sing along with her music, consistently maintaining social distancing and adhering to guidelines. My contention is that my mother effectively utilized the technology of her time—the piano—to mitigate the feelings of loneliness and isolation that residents were grappling with due to the pandemic. The technology available during her era had a profound impact on the well-being of the residents in the senior community. The residents’ health was directly correlated to the kind of technology employed in addressing their feelings of loneliness.  To note, my mother iis still is playing the piano at 3 PM for the residents.  They have adopted this practice as an important ritual to foster the value of togetherness.

This situation underscores the significance of Postman’s second point: technology does not benefit all individuals uniformly. There is no alternative superior to face-to-face interaction in combating isolation and loneliness. Observing our students in higher education or in the public school system it still reveals that many continue to feel the lingering effects of the pandemic. The younger generation is more interconnected than any prior generation. Nonetheless, numerous studies indicate that our students experience levels of isolation and loneliness similar to those of previous generations.

Technology cannot substitute for face-to-face interaction.

Conversely, younger generations confronted different challenges and responses during the same timeframe. The article titled “The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review” offers a thorough analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic has globally influenced mental health. It discusses a variety of factors contributing to mental health issues during the pandemic, such as social isolation, economic stress, and fears of contracting the virus. The review also highlights the heightened prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders, emphasizing the critical need for mental health support and intervention during such crises.

Our students now have increased their access mental health support than they did prior to the pandemic. This should serve as a significant “canary in the coal mine” indicator that we must learn to utilize technology effectively to foster connections with one another.  Simultaneously, we must nurture or students to acquire the social emotional skills, metacognition skills and values such as community if we want a society that is connected and thriving.

Created by Microsoft Copilot in Bing

Postman, N. (1998, March 28). In Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change

National Centre for Biotechnology Information. (2021, October 12). Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Isolation on Students and Staff in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study. Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Isolation on Students and Staff in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8535702/