Is the Internet the way of the future or is it driving our intellect out the door? These are two debating questions that the work of Clive Thompson, “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy”, and Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” consider and argue. Over the past couple of years, it is evident that technology is not only changing in looks and capabilities, but it is also changing the way people view things and the way they are able to perform tasks. What was once used for leisure and to pass the time is now used for virtually everything. What was once a rare and extravagant find is now found everywhere and owned by everyone. While technology is the driving force behind new advances and discoveries, it is also the source of laziness and …show more content…
Many would make this statement today, but Clive Thompson, author of “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy” believes differently. Thompson believes that social networking sites help to create the dynamics of small town life where everyone knows everyone. He also believes that these networks then lead to an increased self-awareness and self-reflection. “This is the ultimate effect of the new awareness: It brings back the dynamics of small-town life, where everybody knows your business” (Thompson 133). When new technology is introduced, it takes people time to acknowledge and accept it. But as time passes, they find themselves embracing it and implementing it in their everyday lives. There is always a desire to change the old and find something bigger and better. Through such advances, we are becoming more interconnected and personal with one another, as if we are a …show more content…
Not only are his claims helping to strengthen the community and bring people back to a level of interconnection, but they are also aiding in the belief that digital literacy is growing. Several times sites like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are mentioned for their help in speaking to digital literacy as it leads to a greater world participation in literacy overall. After reading “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy” and the claims that Clive Thompson makes, I do believe that technology is aiding in the growth of digital intimacy as new advances are constantly being made. Without such changes, many would be at a standstill and would not be able to explore the world and all that the advances in technology have to