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The Benefits and Costs of a Technology: Sheril’s Very Serious Point About Twitter

Explore how your personal decision about technology can shape attention spans and social behavior in today's digital age.

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Just hours ago, my coblogger did an awesome and spirited post about why she ain’t gonna tweet. Good for Sheril—and she asserts that it’s just a personal decision, which is totally fine. I have made the same personal decision, at least until further notice. But Sheril also pointed out some “problems” with the technology in her original post—or rather, problems with what it may cause us to become. She linked a hilarious video underscoring a serious point, namely, that a technology like Twitter might, for some people, put their minds on speed…encouraging them to write faster and faster, and think less and less--becoming (drum roll) a distraction. Inevitably, there were many responses to Sheril's post saying, well, it’s just a new technology—not good or evil, just tech, so use it or don’t, and let others do as they please. E.g.:

Sean Carroll said: "I don’t see why anyone should complain ...

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