The dangers of the selfies stick

We read a lot about the effects of technology on humans. We are becoming more self centered and less empathic according to some recent studies. For example the study of the University of Michigan. This comprehensive study claims that we care about others 40 percent less than people in the 1980s did. This is the biggest drop-off in empathy occurring after the year 2000. Reasons for this drop in empathy is anyone’s guess. The increase in media (both social and mainstream) and violent video games have been trotted out as the most likely suspects. Researchers reached to this conclusion after analyzing surveys completed by close to 14,000 college volunteers over the past 30 years. Sarah Konrath, the lead on this study from the University of Michigan believes that the most recent wave of youth is “one of the most self-centered, narcissistic, competitive, confident and individualistic in recent history. Constant concern for themselves, in other words, comes at the cost of being able to think about the problems of others.

New technologies within the field of communication have given us a lot of new possibilities. Still we have to learn to use these new, technological driven, communication tools. Our behavior is still from an era where we had only mass media. Nowadays we are able to communicate limitless and even the way we communicate is changing fundamentally. We make the shift from text to video. From words to real emotions. We even introduced a word / trend for this development in the way we communicate. This is: liquide communication. A new form of communication where we also share our vitals signs for example. This becomes a reality because technology is merging from around our body to on our body and in the future even in our body. In other words the way we communicate is radically changing.

This means that we are entering a very interesting era. An era where the relationship between our current organizations, institutions and society is rapidly changing. People need to adapt to all the changes and learn about the new possibilities it brings. We will see much more strange developments because of new technologies in the hands of the people. Just like we are now seeing in the rise of self centered media usage. Where this all will lead us is uncertain. But it will fundamentally change society and our relation with the companies and governments.