The participants mentioned several advantages of technology in their lives, most of them expressed that it provides a cost-effective and easy way of keeping in touch with family members and friends (Zsóka, Tímea, Andrea, Léna, Flóra). Andrea added that technology evidently contributed to a faster stream of information, and Tímea said that another advantage is the possibility to find relevant information to one’s questions. Ágota and Tímea see technology’s great advantage in traceability and transparency; information can be stored and looked up systematically. Ágota added that she likes using technology because it stimulates more than one organ of sense, it can be multifunctional, and it is not only limited to passive audio or visual experiences. Taking the bigger picture into consideration, Tímea said that technology has contributed to raising the general quality of life and it also provides opportunities for quenching people’s cultural thirst. Klára complimented this view by adding that technology makes it possible for her to look for entertainment possibilities both online and offline, and for offline events, the most comfortable way to purchase entry tickets is through technology.

András expressed his views distancing himself from attaching strong emotions towards the presence of technology in the world, he said “I wouldn’t like to say that technology is good or bad, I wouldn’t like to attach any value judgement to it, I consider it as a one-way street, which we have to keep to, treat it as it is and shouldn’t try hard to escape it because it will be impossible”. Iván said that if one does not have a certain level of self-awareness, technology can become very time consuming and unproductive. Others also expressed that they had caught themselves having spent too much time using technological devices when they had other important errands to take care of, and several of them mentioned that social networking sites were developed to be addictive and glue individuals to the screens of their smart devices, should they not have self-control and –awareness (Zsóka, Andrea, Sándor, Léna).

Sándor, who lives in a small village, said that while technology is advantageous when it comes to accessing education, for some people, it is not that important to be vested in it. As he said, “it largely depends on whether one lives in a bigger city or in the countryside, and depends on the person, too, of course, how old one is and what one’s profession is. […] For a fifth grader living in a small village at the end of the world, technology is advantageous, but for a carpenter, I’m not so sure”. Similar to Sándor, Diána mentioned that age and willingness largely affect technology use, and while younger people have the advantage of having grown up in a very techno-inclusive world, good technological skills are by no means limited to younger generations. In her family, Diána said that her grandparents invested time and major efforts into learning about technology because they viewed it as an excellent means to stay connected with old friends as well as the youngest family members.

The participants also elaborated on several disadvantages of technology, the most frequently mentioned of which was people’s dependability on it. Léna expressed how much she had to rely on technology when she had spent an Erasmus semester abroad, and once her Internet connection was lost, she lost her way, too. Zsóka said that too much reliance on technology causes people’s growing lazy, while in other situations it could be a source of grave stress (Tímea), for example, when it comes to buying something limited online, registering for online classes, or taking part in job interviews or online examinations. If something does not work (the Internet connection breaks, there is no electricity, the device stops functioning), connection is lost, which results in growing anxiety. Sándor added that inequality in access to technology-inclusive education also contributes towards widening the gap between those who have and those who do not have access when it comes to the job market. For him, living in a small village, even ensuring reliable Internet connection had always been a constant struggle. András registered how this frustration is present in his grandparents’ generation. As many services move online, and even entertainment possibilities such as accessing TV channels require the operation of smart boxes and devices, technology can contribute to the elderly’s technology-triggered frustration because “they just cannot make sense of the world that surrounds them [any longer]”. Nevertheless, Iván expressed that it all comes down to education and willingness, and as he claimed, when there is access, “if a digital alternative is justified, then it should not be overlooked for fear that something just might go wrong”.

 

The participants also mentioned the presence of the digital divide; those who grew up in the presence of technology, or those who have better access to technology have more advantages on the job market nowadays than those who are unfamiliar with technology. While there is evidence that age and attitudes towards technology are in a negative relationship (Monacis et al., 2019), some participants expressed that with better access and invested time, anyone can become a digital citizen (Bayne & Ross, 2011; Papp-Danka, 2013; Mossberger et al., 2008). Nonetheless, technology as a stress factor is present in the participants’ daily lives regardless of their levels of technology; fear of not having access to information, or problems with devices and software result in techno-anxiety. These experiences signal that too much reliance on technology (e.g., relying entirely on Google Maps abroad) can cause discomfort, and perhaps technology should be seen as an extension of the arrays of knowledge (e.g., printed maps, better prepared travel plans), just as technology inclusion in education is seen as an extension of teaching and learning possibilities (Lim, 2002; McDougall & Jones, 2006; Sutherland et al., 2004) instead of complete replacements.