Publisher Home ↗ editor@randspublications.org
International Journal of Social Sciences, Language and Linguistics eISSN 2051-686X Submit Article
Research Articles Open access

Technology and Social Ills: A Double-Edged Sword in Contemporary Society

Published
Pages 35-42
Views 203
Downloads 225

Authors

  • Davendra Sharma Lecturer and Course Coordinator. University Wide Programme and Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Programme, University of Fiji Author

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55640/ijssll-05-10-06 ↗

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has become one of the most defining features of the twenty-first century, profoundly transforming the way individuals communicate, learn, work, and interact. While technology has brought unprecedented opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and connectivity, it has also generated a range of social challenges that question the ethical, psychological, and cultural foundations of modern life. This paper critically examines technology as a double-edged sword, an instrument of both social progress and moral disruption. It explores how technological innovations have improved access to education, healthcare, and global communication, while simultaneously contributing to social isolation, cyberbullying, addiction, misinformation, and erosion of interpersonal relationships. Drawing on sociological and psychological perspectives, the study investigates the interplay between digital dependency and the deterioration of traditional social structures, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy, ethical awareness, and responsible media use. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper analyses how human behaviour mediates technology’s impact, arguing that technology itself is not inherently harmful, but its misuse amplifies pre-existing social vulnerabilities. The discussion further highlights the implications of these trends for developing societies such as Fiji and other Pacific Island nations, where the digital divide and rapid modernization intersect with cultural change. Ultimately, the paper calls for a balanced approach that integrates innovation with social responsibility, urging policymakers, educators, and communities to promote ethical digital citizenship and sustainable technological engagement. In doing so, it reaffirms the need to harness technology’s transformative power for social good while mitigating its potential to deepen inequality and moral disconnection.

Keywords

Technology , Social Ills , Digital Literacy , Ethical Responsibility , Social Change , Fiji , Pacific Islands , Digital Society , Cyberculture , Moral Development

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Heidegger, M. (1977). The question concerning technology and other essays. Harper & Row.

2. Carr, N. (2011). The shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains. W. W. Norton & Company.

3. Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

4. Bauman, Z. (2013). Liquid modernity. Polity Press.

5. Floridi, L. (2014). The ethics of information. Oxford University Press.

6. Boyd, D. (2014). It’s complicated: The social lives of networked teens. Yale University Press.

7. Livingstone, S., & Sefton-Green, J. (2016). The class: Living and learning in the digital age. New York University Press.

8. Turkle, S. (2017). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age. Penguin Books.

9. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311

10. Singh, A., & Reddy, K. (2020). Bridging the digital divide in Fiji: Education, culture, and equity. Fijian Journal of Education, 8(1), 11–29.

11. Ministry of Communications. (2020). Digital Fiji Program: Progress report. Government of Fiji.

12. Reddy, M., & Sharma, D. (2021). Digital transformation and social change in Pacific Island societies. Journal of Pacific Studies, 41(2), 45–62.

13. UNESCO. (2021). ICT in education policy review: Pacific Islands. UNESCO Office for the Pacific States.

14. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. (2022). Pacific digital transformation strategy 2022–2030. Suva, Fiji.

15. Kumar, S. (2022). Youth, media, and moral change in Fiji’s digital era. Pacific Journal of Education, 39(1), 52–68.

16. Naidu, P. (2023). Social media influence and youth identity in Fiji. South Pacific Media Review, 45(2), 23–41.

Explore related research

Similar Articles

31-40 of 152
Continue exploring

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >> 

Search the journal

Find articles by title, author or keyword.