Threat 1: Inappropriate Use of Technology
There are several factors that affect global society. Poor health, climate change, energy sources, and globalization have negatively impacted the global population leading to numerous deaths and destruction of the environment. Inappropriate use of technology also poses threats to global society. For instance, cases of cyberbullying, crimes, and interference of privacy have occurred due to inappropriate use of technology. In addition, lack of educational opportunities is associated with several risks to the global population. For instance, a lack of knowledge among some people has led to negative health outcomes. The following paper aims to provide an analysis of two threats in comparison to the four threats that were identified as among the factors that pose a significant threat to global society. Besides, the analysis will focus on the inappropriate use of technology and lack of educational opportunities and explain why they are less critical than the other factors.
Threat 1: Inappropriate Use of Technology
Technological advancements have improved several aspects of life. However, inappropriate use of technology poses a threat to the global environment. For instance, improper use of technology creates major distractions that hinder people from achieving their goals, including the distraction of education and workplace activities. This occurs when people spend a lot of time on social networks. Besides, the inappropriate use of technology has contributed to an increase in cases of cyberbullying. Youths are the victims of cyberbullying on social media and end up experiencing negative mental effects such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. In addition, inappropriate use of technology is associated with negative physical health effects. For instance, individuals who spend a lot of time on computers and tablets tend to develop obesity and its accompanying comorbidities. Also, inappropriate use of technology in industries and workplaces has contributed to several cases of injuries to the staff. Besides, some employees spend most of their time on devices limiting their time for social interaction hence resulting in physical disconnection. Inappropriate use of technology is also associated with the interference of privacy and data security. Moreover, some individuals use social media to promote terrorism and crime.
However, inappropriate use of technology is less critical when compared to the other four threats: poor health, climate change, energy sources, and globalization. The first reason is that the inappropriate use of technology is associated with fewer fatalities when compared to the four threats. For instance, the adverse health outcomes associated with inappropriate use of technology cannot be compared to the high mortality rate associated with poor health or climate change. Poor health caused 54% of the 56 million death cases in 2017, which much higher compared to the deaths that occur to inappropriate use of technology. Besides, climate change has caused food and water shortages that have affected millions of people, unlike the inappropriate use of technology, which affects only a few individuals.
Moreover, several measures can be adopted to prevent inappropriate use of technology or manage its risks. For instance, policies, workplace regulations exist that provide guidelines on how technology and associated devices should be used. Also, individuals can be trained on how to use specific technology tools and devices hence preventing inappropriate use. Also, parents, employers, and concerned individuals can use internet filters to regulate the use of social media, which in turn prevents addiction, anxiety, depression, other mental disorders, and physical disconnection. Also, individuals can monitor their use of technology using specific software that limits the use of devices. Passwords and security protocols can be used to prevent breaches and inappropriate use of technology to promote crimes.
Besides, the use of technology is not a significant threat because there are many benefits of technology compared to the risks of inappropriate use. For instance, technology has promoted communication among people globally. The internet has promoted access to the wealth of information that has enhanced people’s knowledge. In addition, modern technology has improved efficiency in workplaces. Electric trains, vehicles, and airplanes have facilitated mobility to various parts of the world. Moreover, other sectors such as education, entertainment as well as banking have been improved as a result of usage of technology. This proves that technology has numerous benefits compared to threats, which can also be prevented.
Threat 2: Lack of Educational Opportunities
Lack of educational opportunities poses a threat to the global environment. For instance, the lack of access to educational opportunities has increased levels of poverty in several regions in the world. Lack of education reduces access to employment opportunities resulting in some people living in depending on the little income they earn. Moreover, individuals with low education levels make inappropriate health decisions that have affected their physical and mental wellbeing. For instance, some people lack knowledge of how to prevent chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS, which contributes to poor decision making and engagement in unhealthy practices. In addition, noneducated settings have experienced an increase in crime rates, drug abuse, theft, and gang violence.
However, the lack of educational opportunities is less critical when compared to the four other threats. This is because governments provide funds to increase access to education opportunities. For instance, the local and state governments in the US provided 1.3 trillion dollars in 2017 to fund and enhance access to education. Besides, state-funded public learning institutions serve a significant percentage of the children in the US, with the percentage of school-aged individuals who attended public schools in 2015 being 88%. Thus, the lack of educational opportunities can be addressed through increased funding, minimizing its threats.
In addition, more teachers can be recruited in regions where they are needed the most. Efforts have implemented to ensure disadvantaged regions also receive and retain teachers as a way of improving access to education. For instance, several governments in the world have improved infrastructure, transport systems, and provided adequate compensations to ensure teachers are retained in schools to facilitate access to education.
Moreover, lack of educational opportunities does not cause death cases directly, unlike the other four threats; hence it is less critical. The other threats such as climate change have led to the occurrence of natural events that have caused numerous deaths hence affecting the global environment. Lack of education does not cause death directly; it only leads to negative outcomes such as poverty that affect the quality of people’s lives.
Conclusion
Inappropriate uses of technology are less critical to global society when compared to the other four factors. This is because improper use of technology is associated with fewer fatalities when compared to the four threats. The number of deaths reported due to inappropriate use of technology are very few and cannot be compared to the ones that have occurred due to other threats. Also, strategies that prevent inappropriate uses of technology can be successfully implemented hence minimizing the threats. In addition, technology has numerous benefits compared to the negative effects of improper use. Lack of educational opportunities has also affected the global population by increasing poverty levels. However, this threat is less critical when compared to the other four threats. This is because governments have intervened to ensure most people have access to education by providing funds. In addition, the deployment of teachers to regions where they are most needed has increased access to education. Besides, lack of education does not cause deaths directly; hence it is less critical.