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S T E M I N C U R R E N T E V E N T S
The Internet was originally used by scientists and the military
to share and deliver critical information. Once the general pub-
lic began to access the Internet, it became much more social
in nature, and expanded dramatically. Whatever your interest
is, you can now find a lifetime of information about it with a
few simple clicks, from engineering to construction to how to
use chopsticks. If you like to cook, you have access to a nearly
unlimited supply of recipes; if you’re an astronomy fan, you can
tap right into the latest information from NASA. The Internet
helps fulfill the psychological need that all humans have to
satisfy their own curiosity.
The social aspect of technology has transformed how people
interact. Psychologically, humans have a need to interact, a drive
to feel that they belong. Social media sites such as Facebook and
Twitter allowpeople fromaround the globe to share their thoughts
on any subject they like, and others will “like” or “follow” those
messages or even respond directly to the original author. That
psychological need to reach out and be part of a community can
now be achieved through virtual means.
While fulfilling psychological needs, there are dangers involved
in spending too much time interacting with technology. The
Internet, for all of its power, can also be a tremendous timewaster.
With so much fascinating information available at the touch of
a button, it’s very easy to get distracted from the real world and
spend a vast amount of time jumping from link to curious link.For
a species that is already prone to procrastination, having another
way to avoid what needs to get done can be counterproductive.