YES

Isolated islands

In this age of technology, one epoch-making discovery after another has brought the whole world in our control, but it has also made us mechanical. So, today, we may be in touch with a person living a few thousand kilometres away, but the unfortunate thing is that people no longer sit side by side and communicate. Grandchildren used to listen to stories from the grandparents in the evening — that practice has disappeared. Excessive dependence on gadgets has made people overly mechanical, and each one of us seems to be living on an isolated island.

Arnab Misra,

Class VIII, Khatra Sishu Niketan High School, Khatra

Eroded social fabric

Technology is a boon to civilisation. However, it has also eroded the social fabric. Nowadays, it is quite common to find a group of youngsters sitting together at a place talking on their phones to people far away. So, technology is in reality making people more distant than connected.

Suchismita Behera,

Class X, St. Helen School, Calcutta

No conversation

Today, when we sit with our family, we do not speak to each other or play games with them. Instead, we are on our phones with other people. During vacations, rather than enjoying nature, we are busy clicking selfies and posting them on social media to get “likes”. Children and adults alike watch TV or OTT series or videos while eating instead of enjoying the food together.

Aarav Gupta,

Class VIII, Emerald Valley Public School Salem, Tamil Nadu

NO

Connects to dear ones

Technological advances have led us into an era of WhatsApp chats and video calls that connect the world. And during the pandemic, it has allowed us to be in touch with our dearest ones without meeting them.

Akshat Unni Kurup,

Class XII, Army Public School, Calcutta

Individual choice

During the pandemic, when families across the world were shut indoors, it was technology including Internet that kept them in touch. Every coin has two sides and it depends on an individual how he or she will make use of the tech world.

Krishna Nandan Mondal,

First year, University of Calcutta, Technology Campus, Salt Lake

Support system

In a Covid-19 afflicted world, technology has kept us sane by connecting us not only to our dear ones, but also to psychologists and doctors who define our mental and physical well-being. It is entirely via technology that we have been able to find support and the means to keep ourselves together.

Patrali Pradhan,

First year, Institute of Education for Women, Calcutta