For some, the term “modern society” is synonymous with comfort as new products and services spring up regularly to make our lives easier and better. For others it connotes a fast paced existence where there is much to do and so little time to do it in, in fact it seems impossible to keep up. Modern living has brought us many benefits that we would be loathe to do without, but its cons cannot be denied either. 

Human beings are naturally versatile and curious and do not hesitate to explore new and exciting things. This is how nature intended us to be and because of this attitude modern technology has resulted. Who would want to live again in the times when there were no computers or televisions to share out living spaces? Emails, blogs, social networking and conducting businesses on the Internet have opened our horizons far beyond we had ever hoped to reach. How else would we communicate with one another in our global village? 

While the majority of us use these modes to share information, get to know one another or make money through them, there are some people who exploit them for more sinister and illegal purposes. Slandering others or openly sharing information about celebrities and turning their lives into open circuses is commonplace on the Internet. Computer hacking and identity thefts abound as people make on-line purchases or provide Internet sites with their personal information details.

These days there is no escape from news broadcasts even if they occur thousands of miles away from our homeland. We hear of floods and natural disasters and minute by minute news is broadcast to us in our homes. While it is good to know what happens around the globe to encourage sharing and helping out those in need it also creates an psychological disorders can result because of seeing catastrophes of such magnitude, especially in people of a more vulnerable and sensitive nature. 

An overload of information can also affect modern children who are free to watch television at all times. Scenes of violence, sex and crime have become an everyday part of our daily viewing and many parents will not change channels especially if their favorite soap is being broadcast. A generation of children is being nurtured who have seen more in their young lives than we have as adults. There is no escape for this free information as there are avenues all over where they can find any information they desire. Moreover, images of near perfect men and women fill our screens and lay standards that are hard to follow for any ordinary looking human being. Is it any wonder that our modern society is full of people with eating disorders and other psychological disorders? 

There are some who use modern facilities for furthering their educational qualifications and for them modern technology is a boon as it provides the most efficient and convenient way of learning. They revel in modern times which give them access to information on any subject at the touch of a button making research extremely easy to conduct. 

Modern times are also expensive times as catching up with new technology reveals. New mobile phones, IPods, laptops and electronic reading devices are hitting the market at a pace faster than ever and for those who have to keep up with the Jones it can hit the pocket quite hard. After World War II, to fulfill ever growing consumer needs, credit cards opened the way for us to have money without worrying too much that this was a debt that had to be paid at some point. How can blame be put on individuals when big organizations succumbed into the same trap, the only difference in their case being that the entire economy had to pay the price for their overspending?   

Modern society has given us all much to be thankful for but as is the case there is always a flip side to contend with. Freedom of speech and behavior might give a chance for the undervalued members of society to take a stand but it also allows lines to be crossed as is seen in many younger people who seem to have lost their direction in life. They grow up in single parent but multiple partner households that can lead to a loss in respect and moral values in any growing up child. 

The key is striking a balance between modern living and traditional values so that we can take the best of both worlds and live a life that is progressive and fulfilled in all its aspects and yet retains ideals of respectability and morality. This will help build a strong foundation for any society that has absorbed the best of evolving modernity but not let go of the binding links that make us decent human beings.