Every time a new technology is introduced, no matter how beneficial or safe it is, there are people who are reluctant to adopt it. Why are there so many people resistant to adopting new, transformative technologies? And is there anything we can do to help them overcome their stubbornness and change for the better?
Illogical Reluctance to Change
People are often reluctant to change, even in the face of a change that's strictly positive. This is perhaps easiest to spot with the deployment of a new technology, since some new technologies are strictly better than old ones and because technologies develop quickly.
However, it's important to recognize that this illogical phenomenon is not relegated to technologies, or even new technologies.
For example, take bidets. Bidets are a relatively "old" piece of technology, with more than a century of common use in certain areas of the world. They're superior to wiping with toilet paper in almost every conceivable way, offering advantages like cost reduction, better cleaning, health improvements, and more "“ yet many people are so stubborn that they won't even consider trying one.
Perhaps you also know someone in your life who would refuse to shop at a new grocery store, despite that grocery store being closer, cheaper, and with a wider selection. Is it loyalty to the old brand? Or is there something deeper going on?
Common Points of Contention
Most people who are reluctant to adopt new technologies are afflicted by one or more of the following:
· Cost concerns. One perfectly rational opposition to new technology is a concern about cost. If you already have a smartphone that works perfectly well, there's no reason to spend $1,500 on a new phone that offers only a handful of bonus features. That said, there are many instances where cost is not a concern, or is only a minor concern, so it can't possibly be the only factor.
· Familiarity and comfort. Status quo bias makes us all prefer the current state of things over other alternatives, even if those alternatives offer substantial advantages. It's unclear why this is the case, other than a biological drive to preserve whatever conditions allowed you to survive this long. Still, this bias can be hard to recognize in ourselves, even if it's easy to recognize in others. You're likely clinging to something comfortable and familiar in your own life for similar reasons, even if you don't realize it.
· Failure to understand the new technology. Some people oppose adopting new technologies because they simply don't understand the new technologies. They may not understand that this technology is faster, cheaper, more efficient, or capable of more things. They may not see the rational advantages that you see.
· Misconceptions about the new technology. Similarly, it's possible for people to have misconceptions about new technology that lead them to doubt its validity or value. For example, they may have heard a rumor that there are major privacy concerns associated with the new technology or falsely believed that it's going to be too hard to learn.
· Irritation with rapid development. Changing and adapting requires effort, and too much effort naturally burns us out. Accordingly, some people develop a reluctance to adopt new technologies because they've already adopted so many new technologies in the recent past. If you recently bought a suite of new devices, updated all your old apps, and transitioned to a brand-new platform at work, the last thing you want to hear is about some other newfangled technology that you're supposed to learn overnight.
· No patience for learning. There's a learning curve with almost all new technologies, and some people tolerate that learning curve better than others. Thanks to modern usability design, many new devices and apps are created specifically to be intuitive and easy to grasp. Even so, it can take some individuals many hours of dedicated effort to grasp the fundamentals. Not everyone is eager to spend this time.
· Intimidation and fear of replacement. Since at least the time of the original luddites 200 years ago, people have been intimidated by and fearful of new technologies as a mechanism for replacement and displacement of human beings. Even today, people are plagued with this fear "“ and in some cases, quite rationally. Most people don't like the idea of technology replacing human participation or interactions.
In short, there's probably a constellation of different reasons why many people are reluctant to adopt new technologies, even once those technologies are tested and proven. Because so many of these factors are central to the human experience, we're unlikely to see them disappear anytime soon. Instead, all we can do is be rational with our own decisions and do what we can to help other people find solutions that work for them.