Digital tools - Pros and Cons

Agree to disagree - digital tools make our lives easier, but the bigger question is at what cost? For sure, digital access made it possible to communicate and do our jobs efficiently, especially during the pandemic. We have all those apps and platforms - to create, collaborate or distract ourselves for a bit. And this is the biggest downfall of the digital revolution we are currently experiencing - sometimes, even during work, we delight ourselves for more than a bit.

But let's see some of the positives and negatives of digital tools:

Firstly, digital tools offer benefits like quick access to information, diverse learning, contextual learning, control over one's understanding, support, and encouragement; generally speaking, it is pretty compelling.

Communication is the key

Communication is the foundation of everything. Strictly digital tools play a significant role in the way we communicate nowadays. With hundreds of different apps, you can contact anybody from all around the globe in seconds.

And precisely, the digital tools were a great asset when millions of people had to start working remotely because of COVID-19.

Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangouts have come in as saviors during the pandemic. They have made organizations across specific sectors continue with their operations and allowed global corporations to host webinars, and conferences, strike important deals, and whatnot.

Network remotely

Because of the increase in digital tools, networking capabilities and opportunities have enlarged. For example, Twitter and LinkedIn are comprehensive standards for creating connections.

Corporations will connect with anyone within the same business or approach potential purchasers curious about their merchandise or services. It doesn't need any cold line of work or emailing; connect and say your word.

Productive enough?

Indeed we have an overwhelming number of digital tools available, and it is pretty challenging to determine which ones might increase our work productivity.

As already mentioned, the tools could be helpful, allowing us to communicate more easily with colleagues. Still, we could also use them to track our projects, delegate tasks, proofread our emails, etc. Therefore there is a reduced chance of human error.

An average person uses four to five applications daily. However, the time spent on helpful activities is curtailed by 50% since individuals tend to waste their time on social media applications.

The tools can be a significant distraction, pulling us away from the task at hand and making it difficult to focus, especially with the rise of Tik Tok and such platforms.

Privacy in the digital world

We live in a world with sensors and surveillance cameras all around us and recording devices and gadgets constantly monitoring what we do, which is a high risk of your personal information being taken. For example, platforms such as Google Maps watch and record our movements. Every month you get information about how many kilometers you passed last month, the places you visited, etc.

Everyone with a smartphone has the power to take photos and video footage, then post it online on social media. Therefore everyone can see exactly where you are. And it might be dangerous, especially if some of your followers are extremely friendly. So, the best solution here would be to upgrade your digital literacy.

Conclusion:

For sure, digital tools can cause a distraction if not handled wisely. It can rather tempt us to procrastinate than increase our productivity. However, their benefits somehow outweigh the side effects.

Do you want to boost your productivity and reach entirely new levels? Well, digital tools help you stay focused and overcome that procrastination like a true champion.

But remember, after all, they are just tools. You can use them beneficially, use them wrong, and even hurt yourself.

The truth is that one must become acquainted with and master them; otherwise, they risk being outcompeted in this world of digital tools.

Resources:

1. Altshuler, Tehilla Shwartz. Privacy in a digital world. - In: TechCrunch+. Available from: https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/26/privacy-queen-of-human-rights-in-a-digital-world/?https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/26/privacy-queen-of-human-rights-in-a-digital-world/ [19.08.22]
2. Bhumiraj Raut, Sanjivani. Do Digital Tools make us More Productive or Less Productive at Work? - In: Irjet.net. Available from: https://www.irjet.net/archives/V8/i4/IRJET-V8I4494.pdf [19.08.2022]
3. Sarma, Rajan. Do digital tools make us more or less productive at work? - In: CIO Tech Outlook. Available from: https://www.ciotechoutlook.com/news/do-digital-tools-make-us-more-or-less-productive-at-work-nid-6160-cid-64.html [19.08.2022]