Technological innovation and advancement have become the axis of which the world is connected and operates.  With the advancement of the internet, technologies such as AI, and smart phones have thrusted the world into their dependence.  While these advances may help society, they also have the propensity to create risks.  As social workers, we cannot omit ourselves from using technology, but we must become aware of the advantages and disadvantages these technologies can have on society and its future use on the social work profession.  As social workers, these risk zones should be examined as a protective mechanism.

Surveillance State – Tech companies safeguard themselves from possible negative ramifications to their products.  They provide disclaimers, notice of data collection and for what purpose.  As protection, these companies are protected from the possible negative consequences their products can create because of the undetermined future.

Truth, disinformation, propaganda – Can be spread widely because tech companies have failed to minimize what type of data we share and collect.  Social media for example, has become the platform for disinformation to be shared. It is a medium where people get their news and project views often to distort or interfere with thought processes within a specific group of people.   Because society has become committed to the use of social media platforms for interactions, we are often drafted to believe what we hear, see, or experience, as factual or not. Disinformation and propaganda in the media are being used to achieve the objectives of groups and to influence others or cause harm.  It has become the norm and continues to thrive in politics.

Hateful criminal factors – The product design of these systems are geared to continually grasp the user’s attention.  Are there any considerations at the early stages of the creation of these products, do the tech companies project what can be the outcome if their system goes rouge? This information is not available to the users of products like AI.  Additionally, are the algorithms created to reflect diversity of the users?  It appears not much effort is put into protecting the user, while the developer is free to offer a product that can potentially become unsafe.

Addiction and Dopamine Economy – At this risk zone, children exposed to smart phones are becoming addicted. The poem “I think our parents were right, it was the dam phones” by Kori Jane Spaulding highlighted the addiction children have with cellular phones.  The constant need to be connected to the internet for access to material that can potentially harm them.  Children having a smart phone have also become a form of status among their friends and a lack thereof can lead to bullying. Lately in the news, schools are implementing measures to either ban or limit cell phone use during school hours because it has become a distraction in the learning environment.