“Problems attributed to technologies are often caused by underlying social issues in society rather than by the technology itself.”

The neutral tool perspective contends that technology is neither inherently good nor bad but a tool whose impact hinges on usage. The chapter furnishes examples of positive and negative technology outcomes, underscoring the pivotal roles of context and intentions.

This compulsive engagement with digital platforms has been associated with increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and attention disorders, raising concerns about the broader implications for youth mental health.

Mental health and behavioral addiction, along with political polarization and its impact on public health precautions such as wearing masks, were all mentioned as key public health concerns that are exacerbated by technology. The panelists all agreed that tech companies have a moral obligation to be proactive in thinking about the consequences of their actions, and how their platforms have the power to make impacts on a global scale. Similar to climate change, it was noted that individual choices regarding social media can only do so much, pointing to the need for systemic remedies.

The majority of research shows that using technology helps people stay connected to their social ties, which can decrease loneliness and social isolation. Technology is not a panacea to solve society’s ills, nor is it leading to the demise of society. Recent research, in fact, has found that excessive social media use among youth is less harmful for self-esteem than youth being socially disconnected from their social ties.

Whether technology helps or hinders social interactions between people is a subject of debate. A 2017 study of young adults in the United States ages 19 to 32 years found that those with higher social media use were more than three times as likely to feel socially isolated than those who did not use it as often. However, this study does not establish a causal relationship between social media and depression.

An infrastructure architect and internet pioneer wrote, 'The kind of social innovation required to resolve the problems caused by our current technologies relies on a movement back toward individual responsibility and a specific willingness to engage in community.' Bulbul Gupta responded, 'Until government policies, regulators, can keep up with the speed of technology and AI, there is an inherent imbalance of power.' A computing science professor emeritus commented, 'Social/civic innovation will occur but most likely lag well behind technological innovation.'

Critics of TD argue variously that technology itself is socially determined, that technology and social structures co-evolve in a non-deterministic, emergent process, or that the effects of any given technology depend mainly on how it is implemented which is in turn socially determined.

In the U.S., for example, we often blame technology for many things that go wrong in society. Challenges, such as the impact of automation on jobs, threat to democracy due to disinformation and compromised social harmony due to hate speech and radicalization, have been front and center for quite some time. Algorithmic bias is already a significant problem. Inequalities have been increasing, which has already started affecting outcomes from technology-based interventions.

Recognizing that technology use is associated with both harms and benefits, researchers have begun to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy patterns of use (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023; Lippke et al., 2021; European Parliament, 2020). For example, Bonsaksen et al., (2023) demonstrates that greater time on social media is associated with greater loneliness – but primarily for those who use social media for social purposes.

However, some technological advances cause people to be distracted, overly stressed, and increasingly isolated. Many people are involved in an abundant number of social networking sites, which can lead to problems such as Internet addictions, cheating on significant others, job loss, and narcissism manifested online.

Social issues have always been the preeminent force behind innovation, and technological innovation is no exception. Technology and social change have always gone hand-in-hand. In today’s tech-driven world, though, the connection between social issues and technological innovation is more important and more apparent than ever.

We consider how social relations have changed over time, specifically how technological advances engender new modes of contact for older adults.

The spread of misinformation or outright lies, the prevalence of bullying and cyber attacks, and other unpleasantries are all common side effects of our cyberspace—and they can lead to anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health disorders. Social media alone has had a dramatic impact on feelings of self-worth, success, and inclusion and belonging.

Since different people can experience different benefits and harms, technologies raise questions of ethics and social justice. As a consequence, engineers must grapple with the societal impacts of the technologies they create.

In science and technology studies, the social construction of technology (SCOT) theory argues that artifacts like technologies are products of social processes and negotiations, implying that problems with technology often stem from social contexts rather than inherent technological flaws. This contrasts with technological determinism, which posits technology as the primary driver of social change.

After a decade building social impact technology, we identified a pattern: well-funded, well-intentioned platforms depreciate rather than appreciate. The issue isn't weak missions or uncaring teams. It's flawed operational models — and the assumption that commercial product approaches work for transformational social impact work. 4 Common Causes of Depreciation — Governance gaps, behavioral design failures, product-led growth deficits, and hidden infrastructure costs.

Taking responsibility for technology failures. In her article 'When Technology Fails, Who's Responsible', Amber Case shares her experience of technology failures and discusses accountability.