DOES TECHNOLOGY KILL OUR

     EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

That very evening, the coordinator asked me to be among the judges but I had already planned how to use that gathering for cognitive creativity. When I saw the theme and mature minds from UNIZIK, UNN, UNILAG and scholars from other prestigious institutes, I sat down gladly with my pen and paper.

However, after hesitation, I accepted because I was in good position to deliver an unbiased judgement. Prior to my subscription to their proposal, I told myself that I would put down their points thematically.

It would interest you to know that, I never regretted it as Nora, the first speaker of 'Unity house' credibly and eloquently justified her points.  

Having listened to her keenly, I asked her to tell us whether Technology has no negative effect on human relationship. 

Indeed, that question offered her an opportunity to fill up the gap she jumped during her main speach. 

Among other points she gave was technology's direct and deadly attack on emotional intelligence.

Technology as she would have it, has several demerits when it comes to emotional intelligence:

1. Reduces Face-to-Face Interaction: Excessive use of technology, especially social media and messaging apps, can decrease face-to-face interactions. This limits the opportunities for individuals to develop and practice their emotional intelligence in real-life social situations.

2. Emotional Detachment: Communicating through screens can lead to emotional detachment, as it's easier to misinterpret emotions and cues in digital communication compared to face-to-face interactions. This can hinder the development of empathy and emotional awareness.

3. Dependency on Screens: Relying on screens for communication and entertainment can lead to technology addiction, which can interfere with one's ability to connect with and understand the emotions of others in offline settings.

4. Reduces Empathy: Online interactions often lack the non-verbal cues and body language that are crucial for understanding and empathizing with others. This can result in a reduced capacity for empathy, as people become desensitized to the emotions of those they interact with online.

5. Superficial Relationships: Technology can facilitate a large number of superficial connections, but it may not encourage deep and meaningful relationships. Developing emotional intelligence often requires time and effort invested in building strong, meaningful connections with others.

6. Information Overload: The constant flow of information and stimuli from technology can overwhelm individuals, making it difficult to focus on and understand their own emotions, let alone the emotions of others.

7. Comparison and FOMO: Social media platforms often lead to social comparison and the "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO), which can negatively impact self-esteem and emotional well-being.

It's pertinent therefore to note that, technology itself is not inherently detrimental to emotional intelligence. 

Hence, it depends on how individuals use technology and the balance they strike between digital and offline interactions. This plays a significant role in determining its impact on emotional intelligence.

One of the ubiquitous Zeitgeist is AI picture editing Apps. This is permmeating people's psyche in that they do not have confidence to show there real faces.

No doubt, it is a strong display of low self-esteem.

 WHO YOU WAN IMPRESS?

I'm not against you creating a beautiful background and brightening your face in the picture. But what's the essence of turning yourself into an American super star when you know you are not close to that image. This is exactly what I call 'Capricous life style' 

Please, respect yourself in this blue App. 

Don't be a nuisance just because you have monetized your page. 

Stop that rough play you are playing with people's emotion for the sake of followers.

Thanks for engaging.

 What's up, did you learn from it ?