Abstract
Technology plays a fundamental part in teenagers' lives since the majority of them are deemed digital natives having grown using communications, media, and digital technologies. As technology evolves, it becomes more available and more affordable to more young people. There are 104 countries where 80% of youth have internet connection. In Africa and Asia, there are more females online than males. Several educators, academics, and public health practitioners expect technology to be a remedy to all social problems or a cause for all evil in the world due to the ubiquity of technology. This chapter takes a skeptical outlook at technology by demonstrating how technology could be a cause of social problems and also be a part of the solution if used properly. The author attempts to refute the notion of technological determinism. This chapter aims to look at the role of media, communication, and educational technology, and their relationship with teenage pregnancy.
TopBackground
Technology is generally defined as the use of applied science to create tools that may help humanity to change the natural environment in order to produce more goods and services. Technology is linked to the organizations, systems, and human knowledge necessary to maintain and develop these devices. Information technology (IT) is using of computers, mobile phones, storage, networking and other physical devices, infrastructure and procedures to create, manage, store, secure and exchange all forms of electronic data (Rouse, 2015).
Since, technology is ubiquitous and could have many abstract meanings this chapter will focus on the relationships between media technologies, robotic technologies, information technologies and birth control technologies on one hand and teenage pregnancy on the other hand. Media technology are technologies that support human communication over distances in time and space. These include traditional broadcast technologies such as radio and television; digital broadcast technologies such as YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix; websites; video games; mobile applications; social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and twitter; and videos. Robotic technology will involve robots that replicate the behavior of babies. The robot requires the user to feed it, change its diapers, put it to sleep, handle it properly in the appropriate position, put it properly in the car seat, adjust the temperature, the environment, and change its clothes regularly (Reality Works, 2017). Birth control technologies also known as contraception and fertility control are methods or devices that aim to prevent pregnancy. They comprise of hormone control methods like pills, injection and patches, and physical barriers like condoms, sponges, diaphragms, and spermicidal cream (World Health Organization, 2007).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Globalization: It is the amalgamation of economies, industries, markets, cultures, and policymaking from different parts of the world due to the evolution of transportation, telecommunication, and media technologies.
Contraceptive: A device, medicine, or method that aims to prevent pregnancy.
Virtual Reality Porn: A virtual form of pornography that uses virtual reality headset or using sex toys giving the user the illusion of interacting with a sexual partner.
Dating Mobile Application: A location-based mobile software designed to assist in communication between users that are willing to meet, flirt, chat, and may get romantically or sexually involved.
Media Technology: A technology that improves human communication over distances in time and space such as radio, television, newspapers, social media, and websites.
Robots: A robot is a programed machine capable of carrying out complicated actions and simulations automatically. Robots can be directed by an external control device or the control may be inserted within.
Social media: A website or a software application that gives the opportunity for users to make customized public profiles. Users can also form relationships, communicate, share stories, and media with other users. The website or application improves the formation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests, and other forms of expression using virtual communities and networks.
Mobile Application: A software created to work on a mobile device like as a smartphone or tablet computer. Every application has limited and isolated purpose such as a game, calculator or mobile internet browsing.