Technology and Culture

In today's Western society, technology has become a lot more advanced than it was fifty years ago. In 2010, 'over 9.5m TV sets were bought across the UK - double the number sold in 2002.' Doubtfire, P. (2011) In just ten years, more and more people have been investing in televisions, with video game consoles, smart phones and even electronic books. With technology developing at the rate it is, it's become normal for those living in these advanced countries to spend their time watching TV or playing games, on their own or with partners. Doing this could be considered spending time with people and socialising over the internet but when it comes down to it, they are solitary and independent activities. People aren't spending physical time talking and 'connecting' with their family and friends; they aren't going out there and spending time outside.

If you compare this to cultures within less-developed countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Haiti and the Maldives; the people within these cultures spend a lot more time together. There is a larger sense of community and families and friends spend time together, working, playing, cooking and gathering. These people are learning about their parents and their grandparents lives, they are, essentially, broadening their minds with the knowledge they can learn from each other.

Some people from Western cultures may see these people as under privileged however, are they really? They may have less technology but they have more family values and morals than many Western people. Technology lets us play football online against our friends, it lets us shop and bank and chat; whereas in places without this technology, they have to do it by hand. The games they play aren't about rules or winning, it's about taking part and having fun and the actual work they do is hard work. They aren't just coasting by life. They are being a part of it.

In my opinion, although being able to do these things online may be easier, spending time with family and growing as people without the help of the internet or media teaches you new things and could possibly, give you new experiences.

Doubtfire, P. (2011). UK TV Watching Trends. Available: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/media-centre/news/report-reveals-latest-uk-tv-watching-trends-NEWS35/. Last accessed 9th Jan 2013 .