We are constantly inundated with new technological products and services, as well as the often hidden dangers and misapplications of technology. Just the sheer pace of innovation can be daunting. Between balancing our priorities at home, roles at the office, and responsibilities to our churches and friends, it is far too easy for us to outsource discernment to other people and just accept what they tell us about the role technology plays in our lives.
The most common questions I receive when speaking or writing about technology is “where do I start learning about these issues” or “what does all of this mean for me right now?” While this reading list is by no means exhaustive, I hope to provide you with some solid first steps as you think about these pressing issues and how to navigate them with your family.
Below are six books for you to start preparing yourself to think wisely about technology and the impact it has on our daily lives. Many of these books do not come from a biblical worldview so keep that in mind as you read. I hope these books challenge and stretch you as you dive into them.
Interesting technology stories
Customers Handed Over Their DNA. The Company Let the FBI Take a Look.– The Wall Street Journal
Millions of consumers have bought home-test kits, including 1.5 million from FamilyTreeDNA. How that data is used is largely left up to the companies
Facebook’s New Privacy Feature Comes With a Loophole – Wired
The company finally announced Monday it’s rolling out the feature, now called “Off-Facebook Activity.” People in Ireland, South Korea, and Spain will have access to the long-anticipated tool first, and it will be rolled out in the coming months to all Facebook users.
Starship Technologies raises $40M, crosses 100K deliveries and plans to expand to 100 new universities – Techcrunch
Starship Technologies invented the category of rolling autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, and to date, the company has made more than 100,000 commercial deliveries on behalf of customers.
An Old Instagram Hoax Fools a Bunch of Celebrities – Wired
People like Martha Stewart and US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry posted a typo-ridden meme that claims a new rule is about to go into effect on the platform, which would supposedly allow Instagram to use your photos “in court cases in litigation against you.” To be clear, no such rule exists.