Technology In Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury

The dawn of the technology age is upon us as tech and social media companies such as Apple, YouTube and Instagram are slowly taking over our lives. With new filters, apps, and updates coming out in constant streams, technology and its impact start to become a norm. Researchers explore the effect of technology use, finding significant data to support the fact that surfing the web, playing video games or checking social media gives one the same high as taking a drug like heroin. Although it seems to have a negative effect, it has led to falling numbers of cocaine, hallucinogens, ecstasy users within teenagers (Richtel). Experts believe that the constant technology use may be the cause; with the constant use taking up teens’ lives, there is no

The main character’s wife, Mildred, says, “my 'family' is people. They tell me things; I laugh, they laugh!" (69). In this quote, it shows how Mildred is so lost in a government brainwashing that she believes the actors in the parlor walls are her family. She relies on them to make her laugh and in response to that happiness, she becomes addicted to what "they" make her feel. This is an example of a societal effect because, in the book, Mildred is not the only one who feels this way. It can be connected to the real world because it can be seen in addicted teens and even in places such as Disneyland where you can meet the characters. In another example, Mrs. Bowles, a friend of Mildred, explains how she deals with her children, “it's not bad at all. You heave them into the 'parlor' and turn the switch" (93). This is similar to what happens today, instead, of engaging in conversation or handing their children something to play with, such as a toy; an iPad, or iPhone is an easy fix to crying, anger, and annoyance. Walking through a restaurant, you can see kids staring blankly at a screen. This is important because it shows the similarity between the two worlds and how addiction starts at a young age. In short, the fictional world that Ray Bradbury has painted for the world to see is not so fictional after