In the modern world that we live in, technology is a dependent factor in students’ everyday lives. Here on the Augustana College campus, technology is prevalent on a daily basis.
While enjoying a meal at the Gerber Center on campus, several people sit at a table. The majority of them are on their phones and not participating in conversation. So, what is this problem with the growing dependency on technology?
“Technology for me is a way that I can communicate with the outside world. I’ve met so many people in my life and if it weren’t for my phone or my computer, I wouldn’t be able to communicate with them,” says Angelica Fernandez, a freshman at Augustana College.
It would be hard for a college student to communicate with family and friends without the Internet and social media. For that reason, students have become dependent on technology.
“If technology wasn’t around, those memories would have faded with time. Technology is a way for me to stay updated on their lives and vice versa,” says Fernandez.
Not only is technology used to keep in touch with friends, it is also used for daily class assignments. Students depend more on online databases than information from the library.
“Other resources, such as books, are starting to become outdated. Being able to look things up immediately has the factor of instant gratification that our society is obsessed with,” says sophomore Eileen Ruppel.
Going to the library and finding a book requires more effort than researching information online. Technology dependency stems from school research and staying in contact with friends.
“I know people joke about material things, but I honestly don’t know what I would do without it,” says Fernandez.