The Town Grump’s Awakening: A New Perspective on Technology
I pride myself on being the town grump when it comes to technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. You might recognize me as the one at school board meetings advocating for limits on phones in classrooms or retweeting the warnings of Jonathan Haidt and Jean Twenge regarding how technology is reshaping childhood—often, not for the better. My concerns are legitimate and heartfelt, but I find myself increasingly wanting to voice an alternative perspective.
As an educator teaching a course on educational technology, I’ve noticed a growing cohort of students who adopt a “principled Luddite” stance. They refuse to engage with AI under any circumstances, a mindset I can somewhat sympathize with. Their apprehension arises from valid concerns about technology’s impact on society, reminiscent of James Marriott’s insightful essay "The Dawn of the Post-Literate Society." He emphasizes that we often underestimate the risks that new technologies pose, particularly to our children.
However, despair is not a solution. Retreating into nostalgia or outright banning new technological innovations does little to equip us for the world our children will eventually inhabit. The technological genie is out of the bottle, and it’s not going back in.
Calibrated Hope: A Balanced Approach
Between despair-driven Luddism and naïve tech optimism lies a more constructive response: calibrated hope. This hope is grounded in reality, sustained by agency, and disciplined by wisdom.
As a Latter-day Saint, my approach to technology flows naturally from my theological beliefs. Since the inception of our faith, we’ve strived to resist both fatalism and fear, promoting a form of hope that transcends mere optimism; it’s a moral discipline. Our scriptures urge us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” suggesting that we can possess both keen discernment and innocent goodness—qualities that may not seem compatible, but are essential for navigating complex issues like technology.
Our tradition has seen us overcome obstacles—crossing plains with maps and handcarts, stockpiling grain for challenging times—demonstrating resilience even amid uncertainty. Hope is not rooted merely in temperament; it emerges from a covenantal understanding of our relationship with God and each other.
Moral Agency in a Technological Era
Central to this worldview is a robust understanding of moral agency. This agency is exercised under conditions that are rarely perfect or simple. The advent of powerful tools like AI doesn’t diminish our duty to make ethical choices; instead, it amplifies the stakes of those choices.
This conviction grants me an unusual sense of calm regarding artificial intelligence. Many teachings within my faith recognize that intelligence and matter are connected, positing that our worth is not contingent upon outperforming machines. We should find solace in our shared divine potential—a reality that tech cannot replicate.
Innovation as Providence
My confidence does not stem from believing AI is harmless; it arises from understanding what AI cannot undermine. A Latter-day Saint perspective views innovation as a divinely inspired tool, meant to enhance human moral and spiritual progress rather than threaten it. As Brigham Young articulated, advancements in science and art prepare humanity for greater truths. Church leaders today echo this sentiment, advocating for a balanced approach that acknowledges both opportunities and challenges with new technologies.
Elder Gerrit W. Gong emphasizes that while AI presents unique opportunities for human development, it cannot replace the depth of divine revelation or the transformative experience of genuine relationships. AI’s lack of emotional capacity highlights the importance of our covenant relationships, which remain central to our being.
Moral Formation for a New Technological Age
In an age overflowing with powerful tools, the need for moral formation is paramount. We may need to curb our technology usage, yet fostering responsible agency is even more crucial. Elder David A. Bednar cautions that, cloaked in the guise of scientific advancement, we might be seduced into surrendering our moral agency to technologies that can only engage with material, rather than spiritual, truths.
The expansion of intentional agency may serve as a safeguard against the overwhelming influx of information. For instance, Latter-day Saint missionaries are now expected to harness social media and smartphones responsibly. They must establish boundaries and nurture habits that enable these technologies to serve their missions rather than control them.
In my classroom, I see young people excited to wield powerful tools, yet lacking the foundational routines necessary for effective usage. That’s why I mandate the use of technology in my classes; just as bad technology can lead to poor outcomes, unprepared students can worsen the situation.
Empowering Responsibility at Home and School
In my household, technology isn’t seen as a privilege or a right but as a responsibility that must be earned. Before allowing a smartphone or introducing AI in the classroom, I expect evidence of self-regulation from my children and students. This includes managing distractions, completing tasks without prompts, and engaging fully in learning initiatives.
For example, a student who wished to use AI for essay outlines had to first demonstrate the ability to maintain focus on a single article without constant phone checking. When he could not do so, it became clear that the issue lay not with the AI, but with his inability to exercise necessary discipline.
Such limits may not yield foolproof solutions, nor are they permanent; however, forming good habits is instrumental in building character, and character is foundational to agency.
The Moral Demand of Our Time
On days when I feel weighed down, like after the passing of President Jeffrey R. Holland, I am often surprised by the inspiration that finds me. Recently, a clip featuring President Holland’s voice reminded me of the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges.
I continue to harbor worries about technology’s impact, advocating for thoughtful limits and critiquing its pervasive influence. Nevertheless, I refuse to let anxiety dictate my approach to innovations.
Fostering agency, rather than succumbing to anxiety, is the moral demand of our era. If we manage to educate children who know how to self-govern, teach students who can wield tools without being dominated by them, and resist the impulse to panic in the face of rapid change, we accomplish the very task generations before us have undertaken: living faithfully, thinking clearly, and making wise choices, regardless of the tools at our disposal.
