Technophobia and How to Deal With It
Even though we live in a day and age when technological advancements are staggering, some people aren’t only apprehensive about them; they fear them.
New technology is a broad term that encompasses all of the latest innovations in science and engineering. It includes everything from smartphones and drones to quantum computers and gene editing tools.
The fear of new technology is common among people who don’t understand it or who have been told by others that their fears are justified.
If you don’t know what something does or how it functions, then you will naturally be wary of it and hesitant to use it. Some people have trust issues, specifically in terms of data and privacy.
Another reason people fear new technology is because they feel like they lack control over their lives when using these devices (or even just being around them). For some, using an ATM is scary enough, and their brains are wired to think that it can lead to all sorts of worst-case scenarios such as identity theft and the like.
There’s also the doomsday scenario, aka “technology gone wrong,” about which many people are wary.
Since the use of technology is a part of our daily lives, the fear of it is not something that can just be swept under the rug.
If you, too, have issues with technology, here are some of the ways to deal with it:
- Being exposed to it, also called exposure therapy,
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – to identify and change the irrational thoughts that trigger the fear
- Medications, specifically for anxiety (as prescribed by doctors!)
So many people fear change, and even anything new (neophobia), but that’s a story for another blog. As with anything that breaks tradition, routine, or what we’re used to, the key is to take things one step at a time.
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