“Senator, we run ads”
From organizing protests across the globe to skewing election results, technology is playing a role in just about everything we do. In class this week, we read about how technology impacts relationships and dating and we saw the role technology plays in organizing a revolution through the documentary #chicagogirl. Technology is not only a part of our daily lives, but it is shaping it dramatically as well. After news of the Facebook scandal broke out, America watched as the Senate Committee asked Mark Zuckerberg questions about Facebook and technology that seemed elementary for those who grew up in the digital era. The question is, because technology has become so engrained in everything we do, should it be a requirement for officials to have a basic understanding of the role it plays? In the medium article “Mocking Congress Won’t Make It Tech Literate” by Evan Selinger, the author discusses various sides to the arguments made my those in support and those against Congress for their questions presented to Zuckerberg. Selinger highlights a quote from Alec Baldwin about the issue on Saturday Night Live where he states:
“[Politicians] have a duty … to be acquainted with the basic operations of the most powerful forces and institutions that are shaping our nation”
The key phrase here is “most powerful”. Technology runs just about everything we do in regards to politics and militarization. However, the point Selinger is trying to make is, how do we approach this misunderstanding of technology? Because not only is Congress confused, but I’m sure more than half of the nation is as well. Through his talk with Shannon Vallor, Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara University, Selinger suggests that we may need a new movement for constructive civic debate. On the other hand, there should be a level playing field when approaching topics that hold great influence and power in America.
Over the past month, it has been revealed to us that our lawmakers and those in power do not know much about technology and the role it plays in every aspect of our lives. As inspiration from the documentary #chicagogirl, this lack of knowledge can sometimes work in the favor of those trying to make a change. This time the use of technology may have made a negative impact on our society, but for every downfall there is always an uprising.
Sources:
Selinger, Evan. “Mocking Congress Won’t Make It Tech Literate — Member Feature Stories — Medium.” Medium, Medium, 27 Apr. 2018, medium.com/s/story/mocking-congress-wont-make-it-tech-literate-21a2c3208d3e.
