Paranoid or Practical? Rethinking Our Relationship with Technology in a Cyber-Driven World

Marcus D. Taylor, MBA
May 27
3 min read

One night, I found myself in a deep conversation with my oldest son—a man who, like many, uses technology every day yet harbors a growing paranoia about it.

He owns a smartphone with internet access, works a job that relies on digital systems, streams movies, uses Uber, checks emails, and texts with ease.

But when he gets home, he turns his phone off. He refuses to install security cameras and avoids digital activity in the house. His justification? He believes he's being watched, tracked, or targeted. Yet all that caution vanishes the moment he steps outside, checks an app, or hops in a rideshare.

I asked him, “How is it that you're okay using tech in the world but suddenly unplug when you're at home—when you’re surrounded by the same infrastructure?”

He couldn’t quite explain it. And that’s what led me to dig deeper—not just as a father, but as someone who works in the world of technology and education.

The Psychology Behind the Fear

1. Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger, 1957)

People often hold two opposing beliefs. For example:

“Technology is dangerous.”
“I need technology to function.”This creates cognitive dissonance—psychological discomfort that leads to behavioral contradictions. In my son’s case, he believes turning off his phone at home gives him control, even as he leaves a digital trail all day.

2. The Privacy Paradox

This is when someone fears data exploitation but still gives up personal information daily for convenience.Barth and de Jong (2017) found this paradox is widespread: people click "agree" on terms they never read, grant apps access to contacts and location, and stay logged into platforms tracking them 24/7.

3. Techno-Moral Panic & Media Amplification

From news headlines to viral social media posts, people are inundated with horror stories of hacking, tracking, and identity theft. This overexposure fuels techno-moral panic, where the idea of surveillance becomes more frightening than the reality.

Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of liquid modernity explains this well: as life becomes less stable, people develop fear-based behaviors to regain a sense of control—even if those actions are inconsistent.

4. The Illusion of Control

By avoiding tech in selective situations, people feel empowered. But that’s often an illusion.Turning off your phone at home doesn’t erase the metadata stored in your email, banking apps, or fitness trackers. The illusion of control gives a false sense of safety while leaving real vulnerabilities untouched.

A Father's Reflection

As a parent, I don’t diminish my son’s concerns—privacy matters. But I also remind him of this reality:

“You’re not that important that everything you do is being tracked or stolen. But you are important enough to protect your data wisely.”

He’s not wrong to be cautious. The problem is that his actions—though rooted in fear—don’t match the actual risk. What’s needed isn’t paranoia, but proactive digital literacy.

What You Can Do Instead

Rather than fear tech, manage it. Here’s how:

Use a password manager and multi-factor authentication.
Update your devices and don’t ignore system warnings.
Avoid suspicious links, downloads, and fake texts.
Know your real risk profile. Unless you're a high-value target, the biggest threats are low-level scams and phishing.

And finally—educate yourself. Learn how your devices collect, store, and share information. It’s the first step to owning your digital life.

Final Thought

My son isn’t alone. Millions are anxious about the cyber world they live in but don’t realize how much they're entangled in it. Opting out part-time doesn’t work. What does work is digital discernment, intentional behavior, and a willingness to learn.

We’re already in the system. The question isn’t “How do I escape it?” but “How do I navigate it wisely?”

References:

Barth, S., & de Jong, M. D. T. (2017). The privacy paradox – Investigating discrepancies between expressed privacy concerns and actual online behavior. Telematics and Informatics, 34(7), 1038–1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2017.04.013
Bauman, Z. (2000). Liquid Modernity. Polity Press.
Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford University Press.