--- title: "Technology unmasking old social problems" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:tech-unmask-social-problems" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/tech-unmask-social-problems site: BCT Engineering --- # Technology unmasking old social problems Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology - Asked in: 2073 Chaitra, 8 marks; 2074 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2071 Chaitra, 6 marks (asked 3 times) - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/tech-unmask-social-problems - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-1 ## Question Explain how technology can unmask old social problems of a society. ## Short answer Technology exposes pre-existing social problems by changing who benefits and who loses; examples include ultrasound revealing son preference, online classes exposing the digital divide, and social media uncovering corruption and domestic violence. ## Answer Technology often does not *create* a social problem; it **exposes (unmasks) problems that already existed** but were hidden, accepted as normal, or not measurable. When a new technology is introduced, it changes who benefits and who loses, and the hidden inequality, discrimination or weakness becomes visible. #### How technology unmasks old problems 1. **Gender discrimination – ultrasound (USG):** Ultrasound was introduced to check the health of the foetus. It was misused for sex-selective abortion in South Asia. This revealed the deep son preference already present in society, which is why Nepal and India had to make sex determination illegal. 2. **Unequal access – digital divide:** During COVID-19, schools moved online. Children of poor and rural families without smartphones, internet or electricity could not study. Online classes did not create poverty; they exposed the gap between rich and poor, urban and rural. 3. **Corruption and bad governance:** Social media, CCTV and online public procurement (e-bidding) expose bribery and misuse of power that existed earlier but was hidden. 4. **Caste and social exclusion:** When drinking water taps or community services are built, disputes over "untouchable" groups touching the tap show the caste discrimination that still exists. 5. **Unemployment and lack of skills:** Mechanization (tractors, excavators, automated machines) shows that a large part of the workforce is unskilled and that the economy cannot absorb them; this drives foreign labour migration. 6. **Domestic violence and abuse:** Mobile phones and social media allow victims to report abuse and let the public see cases that were earlier kept "inside the house". 7. **Health problems:** Modern diagnostic tools reveal diseases such as diabetes, cancer and malnutrition that were previously undiagnosed. #### Why this matters for engineers - Before introducing a technology, its **social impact must be assessed**: who will gain, who may be excluded, how it can be misused. - Technology should be combined with **laws, awareness and policy** (e.g. the ban on sex-selective abortion, subsidised internet for schools) to solve the problem it has exposed. In short, technology works like a mirror: it reflects existing inequality, discrimination and weakness in a society so that they can be recognised and addressed. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What does it mean that technology 'unmasks' social problems? A. It exposes problems that already existed but were hidden or accepted as normal B. It creates entirely new social problems C. It solves hidden problems automatically D. It hides problems from the public Answer: A. Technology often does not create the problem; it makes existing hidden inequality or discrimination visible. (Key point: Meaning of unmasking) 2. What did the misuse of ultrasound for sex-selective abortion reveal? A. A lack of doctors in rural areas B. Poor quality of ultrasound machines C. Deep son preference already present in society D. Weak internet access Answer: C. The misuse showed existing son preference, which led Nepal and India to make sex determination illegal. (Key point: Ultrasound example) 3. What did online classes during COVID-19 expose? A. That online teaching is always better B. The gap between rich and poor, urban and rural, in devices, internet and electricity C. That teachers lack qualifications D. That poverty was caused by online classes Answer: B. Online classes did not create poverty; they exposed the existing gap between those with and without smartphones, internet and electricity. (Key point: Digital divide in COVID-19) 4. What should be done before introducing a technology, and after a problem is exposed? A. Introduce it quickly and ignore social effects B. Ban the technology completely C. Rely only on the market to fix problems D. Assess social impact and combine it with laws, awareness and policy Answer: D. Social impact (who gains, who is excluded, misuse) must be assessed, and laws and policy are needed to address exposed problems. (Key point: Response of engineers) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Information age characteristics and unmasking social problems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainfo-age-unmask-problems) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Employment shifts, old social problems and culture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aemployment-shift-culture-values) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Old social problems and science without humanity](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ascience-without-humanity) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Impact of technology on environment and society](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Atech-impact-environment-society) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× ## Related in other subjects - [Community vs society; social change theories](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Acommunity-society-social-change) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1 - [Social change, factors, role of technology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Asocial-change-factors-technology) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1 - [Impact of technology on society](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Atechnology-impact-society) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1, asked 3× - [Appropriate technology and impact on society](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-society-impact) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1