Hi. Is this a 12 step program for tech haters? Am I in the right place? Get off my internet lawn!
Well, I started ranting about the modern tech and what I detest about it. Others have joined in both agreeing and disagreeing in certain aspects. Even I enjoy some of the benefits of modern tech, like the ability to rant about it on an online forum, while at the same time question the use/misuse of modern tech that appears, to me at least, to be damaging our social fabric.
I started programming computers back in the late 1970's and over a number of years post High School I managed to get 2 college degrees in computer science and related fields. I would not call myself anti tech, per se, but recently I have really become upset with the way/direction of our modern tech in how it has become a big part of the lives of so many people in ways that I do not like. My programming days were well before the internet and all these social media platforms.
I see these social media platforms as life changing. They are not tools, they take over the minds of people. I know too many people who only get their "news" from Facebook posts and only believe something that they read on Facebook. Problem is, of course, Facebook is not a news media outlet and is free to make and pass on all kinds of misinformation without having to post corrections or be accountable for their spreading garbage. Real news organizations and publications have reputations to maintain and if they make a mistake, they will post corrections, even if not on the front page. I don't know how a democracy survives if we the people have no collective confidence on the "facts" we need to know to make decisions about the people we elect to represent us and to lead the nation.
I don't have to go further than my own family where I can get into a political debate with a sibling about an issue. I will state that ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and even Fox news (not the late night opinion shows) will all cover the news more or less the same. My family member will have some completely different view because they read something posted on Facebook and give that more value than the "Fake" news of all our broadcast channels. But I'm a news junkie and will watch many channels throughout the day. My sibling states they don't have the time or desire to do that, and besides, the only real news is what they read on Facebook. I think that is toxic as misinformation is all over social media without any checks.

I guess I'm still ranting.....