Technology-is it a help or a hindrance to social injustice?

The 21st Century has been home to the process of globalisation-creating a shrinking world. Consequently, the compression distance and reduction of time to travel to other sides of the world, means that even more so, global and far afield scale social injustices, are now right on our doorstep, concerning us all.

Technology is one of the crucial mobilisers of a shrinking world. This is because it allows the instant spread of information over vast distances. However, when we scroll down out BBC News Apps, we become overwhelmed by the the degree of social injustice in the year 2016, this certainly makes me feel bogged down with the existing prejudices in the world.

As the world becomes smaller and communication becomes faster, it seems like there is more social injustice; however the presence of technology demonstrates that there is a greater global awareness and understanding of injustices. It is important to utilise technology as a help rather than a hindrance to social injustice. Technology is a means of education, and in the rapid spread of information, we are able to learn much faster, compared to the speed of communication in the early African-American racism in the deep South about how to respond to address this social injustice.

The 2016 Dallas shootings triggered a global ripple of support and response to this awful tragedy. Technology provided the means for this response. For instance, Christian music artists responded to the shootings on Twitter, utilising music as a cry of the current generation to show support to those bereaving. And additionally, charities such as the Red Cross called for the donation of blood to help those injured, using technology to gain donors. Thus the power of rapid communication spread his peaceful response to the shootings.

Thus, the almost instantaneous technological response to the Dallas shootings provides unity in dealing with the social injustice of racism highlighted by this act of violence.

Whilst technology reminds us of existing social injustice, technology provides a means in which by learning about the existence of social injustice, we are able, in a small way to begin to combat it.

Therefore, I encourage you to use technology to not feel overwhelmed by social injustices, however motivated to take action against them. In looking to the Bible, Romans 12:12 teaches on perseverance. With social injustices present in the 21st Century, we should take God’s word to understand how to persevere to help reduce these injustices.