The Law of Amplification is such an interesting concept for understanding technology. I tend to subscribe to this idea as well, because throughout the world, we can see numerous examples of how technology can dramatically improve or worsen situations. It all depends on who is behind it. What stood out to me was when Dr. Toyama addressed the idea that the internet provides equal footing for those without a voice. However, this is often not true. Dr. Toyama discusses how the internet often amplifies the voices of those who already have a prominent presence (Toyama, 2016). This point reminded me of a recent class discussion, where we discussed how technology is neither good, bad, nor neutral. Of course, technological advancements have improved the lives of many people, but they have also served the selfish interests of those with power. Technology is not neutral, either, because, regardless of the intentions behind it, the fact of the matter is that technology benefits some individuals over others.  

My takeaway from the class discussion we had was that when dealing with technological advancements, a factor that should be considered as strongly as any other is the morality behind technology. This idea aligns with Dr. Toyama’s speech, which emphasizes the need to understand the impact technology will have on people. By understanding this, we will be able to better determine how to utilize a piece of technology most effectively. Dr. Toyama emphasizes the ethical responsibility we have in this regard, where technology is used to better ourselves, rather than risk dystopia.

Another point that resonated with me was Dr. Toyama’s argument against the idea of techno-determinism, which is the belief that technology alone drives social progress. He argues that vast amounts of information accessible on the internet do not equate to education because other factors, such as lack of time, resources, and mental energy, prevent people from utilizing it effectively. (Toyama, 2016). Another counterargument to techno-determinism that Dr. Toyama brings up is supported by studies showing that providing laptops to children has no impact on their academic grades. Unsupervised, it causes children to become more distracted, and successful learning requires adult guidance imposed by the teacher (Toyama, 2016). In other words, technology alone will not make a difference because it is not addressing the actual problem. In both cases, Dr. Toyama’s Law of Amplification is exemplified, where, unless the environment is already promoting growth, technology will not have a positive impact; it will simply amplify the existing problems. 

I see a clear connection between this point and our in-class activity of analyzing the campus-wide email alternatives, the Berea Bulletin, and the Berea Calendar, which are arguably worse. The conclusion we reached was that neither one addresses the core problem. This example is small stakes; however, the principle remains true. Throwing more technology at the issue and hoping something sticks is not the right approach, especially considering the significant impact technology can have on people's lives. 

Overall, Toyama’s “Law of Amplification” serves as an important reminder that technology is only as good as the people and systems behind it. There needs to be an emphasis on conducting thorough research and approaching design and development with empathy, awareness, and a strong ethical foundation. Meaningful progress requires not only innovation but also the development of human and social capacity to use that innovation responsibly.

 

Sources: 

Toyama, K. (2016, August 4). Geek Heresy: Rescuing social change from the cult of technology [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_ujyVuhAxC0