The transformation that occurs in societies as they progress and become more advanced, industrially and infrastructurally, is defined as “Modernization.” The term “modernization” is commonly used to refer to this change. It is also used to describe the transformation, the adoption of new ways of working, new ways of thinking, and new ways of living that are necessary to achieve higher levels of productivity, output, and prosperity.
Even though the development of technology and the introduction of digital products have resulted in many positive outcomes, these developments have also resulted in the emergence of new problems. In the following sections of this article, we will discuss the effects of the modernization of society on human life.
Table of Contents
Positive Effects of Modernization
1. Development of Better Infrastructure
The modernization effort has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of the infrastructure. The growth and prosperity of a nation are deeply connected with the various forms of physical infrastructure that the nation contains. Similarly, when we have better infrastructure, we have access to better facilities. These facilities include improved education, transportation, railways, roads, airports, electricity, and many others. With access to all of these facilities, our day-to-day lives are also improved; we enjoy a higher quality of life.
2. Expansion of Renewable Energy Sources
As the world continues its march toward modernization, people are uncovering new and varied sources of renewable energy. Once upon a time, gas, diesel, and petroleum were all absolutely necessary for our economy and way of life. But in today’s world, different techniques are being carried out in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as solar panels and wind turbines. As a result, a more sustainable future is ensured due to reduced reliance on nonrenewable energy sources.
3. Increase in Employment Opportunities
Increased employment opportunities have been a significant benefit of modernization for our society. As technology advances, we see the emergence of a new industry in the market. To run these industries, skilled manpower is required, which creates more job opportunities. The effect of modernization has made it possible for a large number of people to work from the comfort of their own homes or remotely, resulting in more employment opportunities that were absent in the past.
4. Global Community Access
With the help of modernization, we are able to access the global community. We can communicate with people from all over the world without ever having to leave the comfort of our own homes. Because of this, we have the chance to educate ourselves about the traditions, practices, and languages of the people we interact with on a global scale. In addition, we can learn about developing technologies, current affairs, and other relevant topics which are happening on a global scale.
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Negative Effects of Modernization
1. Relying On Modern Technology
Modernization has made individuals get engaged in technology for their maximum number of time. As technology gets better, gadgets like phones, laptops, tablets, and computers are in high demand and often used at the same time. These things have helped us in our everyday lives. For example, the world is slowly moving away from cash. Nowadays, people pay their bills with scan pay, credit cards, and debit cards. Similarly, schools and colleges have begun providing students with opportunities to study online. Students need to have access to laptops or tablets in order to have a successful experience with online education. This demonstrates due to modernization, people have come to rely on technology in their day-to-day lives.
2. Loss Of Natural Resources
Modernization is one of the main reasons for the loss of natural resources. The construction of new airports, roads, and industries as well as the widening of existing highways and expressways, is picking up speed. There is absolutely no way that this will come to an end. Because of the construction of new roads and highways, the forest is being cut down, which will undoubtedly lead to the extinction of many plant and animal species.
This habitat is being converted into roads and highways so that more land can be used to develop. In a similar way, increased water use has led to a decrease in the amount of available water. The overexploitation of available water resources has depleted rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
3. Rise In Pollution
The amount of pollution modernization is creating is simply extraordinary. Growing industry which plays a significant role in contaminating the air and causing an increase in carbon dioxide levels are very hazardous to human health. Global warming is likely to result from increased carbon dioxide levels. The fact that the water is being polluted in the name of industrial development, religious practices, and other things will lead to a lack of available drinking water. And we are well aware of the fact that without water, life is impossible.
In addition, how waste is dumped on the land eventually results in the soil becoming toxic. If this rate of land pollution continues, there will be no fertile soil left for us to grow our crops in the future. All these numerous forms of pollution, like air pollution, water pollution, and land(soil) pollution, are a result of growing modernization. As a result, this kind of pollution makes the everyday lifestyle of people more difficult.
4. Affect on The Local Economy
Modernization has had a big effect on the local business community. As people become more modern, they are more likely to export things. They usually think that we will be in style if we use expensive products from foreign brands. Customers today are more interested in high-end, branded, expensive goods, and they are willing to pay a lot for them.
So, they don’t care about what is made in the country; they don’t know how valuable local products are. Also, if local products don’t sell, the local vendors will have trouble, hurting the local economy. If this keeps happening, our local products won’t get the bigger market that they really deserve.
In conclusion, the effects of modernization on human life can be seen in both positive and negative ways, depending on how one chooses to evaluate them. It has improved infrastructure, created more opportunities, increased our knowledge, and given us access to the global marketplace.
However, it has also introduced new risks and difficulties, such as increasing the dependability of technology, increasing pollution, negatively impacting the local economy, and depleting natural resources. To get past these challenges and create a better future for everyone, we need to carefully consider the effects of modernization and implement plans that promote sustainable growth and innovation. Only then will we be able to make breakthroughs against these challenges.
