What are the Dangers of Abusing Technology: First Seen in Novels

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The myriad positive effects of technology have undoubtedly made life easier for humanity. However, as humans crave more simplicity and ease in their lives, such progress can have downsides due to possible abuse. While improvement is inherently and supposedly positive, it may also have its dangers resulting from humanity overdoing things—and such is happening now, although overlooked.

Humanity can be greedy, which results in the decay of something beautiful. Today, such is reflected in the growing dangers of abusing technology.

What Is the Danger of Using Technology?

On the surface, there is no evident and immediate danger in using technology. If anything, it was invented to make life easier, and it does if used within its functions.

Like everything else in life, technology is supposed to be utilized in moderation, simply as an assistant or accessory, not an absolute substitute. However, humans have the natural drive to push things too far and test limits. While in personal endeavors, this may lead to success, in this matter, it has led to the many negative effects of technology on society.

What Are the Dangers that May Result from Abusing Technology?

There is no danger in using technology; the danger lies in overusing or abusing it.

• Isolation: When used too much, technology can bring people apart instead of bringing them together.
• Decline in Mental Health: Digital social interactions are less regulated, increasing instances of cyberbullying or technology directly influencing people’s perception of themselves.
• Numerous Physical Risks: From eyestrain to poor posture and obesity, overusing technology contributes to multiple physical risks.

Society already anticipates the imminent dangers of abusing technology (although it’s still carelessly and stubbornly going in that direction), and this is reflected in the novels and movies it ironically enjoys consuming.

How Is Tech Abuse Foretold by Fiction?

Numerous novels, from thrillers capturing the dangers of technology falling into the wrong hands to dystopian novels detailing how damagingly isolating it can be, have predicted the actual dangers of abusing technology.

Due to authors’ “future-seeing” imagination, literature has become a powerful lens in examining what can stem from tech abuse—and the accuracy is pretty eerie.

David W. Stewart is among the authors who might be onto something. In his sci-fi novel about the dangers of robotics, Stewart suggests the possibility of pandemonium breaking out should technology fall into the wrong hands. His message is simple: Robots can take over the world if someone allows them to.

This begs the question: Other than the decline of mental and physical health, what are other possible dangers of abusing technology, as foretold in novels?

What Novels Warned About the Dangers of Abusing Technology?

Novels, especially science fiction, provide the perfect space for society to explore the possible dangers of abusing technology. Without limiting narratives to the current reality, such stories can do what humanity does best—test limits (but vicariously, of course). However, there is already enough room to let imagination run wild and picture what could happen should people do so much with technology.

Surveillance and Loss of Privacy

One of the most evident and, perhaps, already one of the current dangers of abusing technology is the loss of privacy. Using the Internet or any digital platform typically requires people to sign up using their personal information. This means such details are already being stored somewhere. They’re temptingly dangled before hackers or identity thieves, who can use them in the wrong way.

Such a crisis is reflected and explored in The Circle by Dave Eggers or 1984 by George Orwell.

Loss of Human Control

This is similar to what David W. Stewart has written in his book, Angel of Mortality. When humanity relies too much on technology, it allows the systems to know its vulnerabilities. In a snap, this can lead to disarray. It’s already a typical question people throw around in discussions about the dangers of abusing technology. What would happen if Artificial Intelligence or robots became sentient?

And, indeed, what would happen if the thing people have intricately invented to answer their questions and function on genius-level crack and attack?

This problem is depicted in novels such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick or Neuromancer by William Gibson.

Risks of Genetics and Bioengineering

A lot can go wrong when humanity tests technological advancements and pushes them beyond their limits. One of society’s curiosities revolves around human anatomy, which is among the most dangerous scopes to experiment on. People have already used technology to manipulate genetics and manually adjust matters to satisfy their quest for superiority.

When people toy around with what’s beyond their control, should it also be expected that consequences will be beyond theirs? This is discussed in Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and the well-known Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Are We Living in a Dystopian Novel?

With how close to reality some of these novels are becoming, society should ask if fiction is catching up to reality. It’s only a matter of time before the supposedly fictional warnings about the dangers of abusing technology become actual threats to humanity.

Should we wait before it’s too late?

If you’re curious about vicariously living a reality where tech abuse is causing damage, David W. Stewart’s Angel of Mortality is the ideal novel. Grab a copy of it now!