Tech Can't Solve Social Problems

Discussions emphasize that social, societal, or human issues cannot be resolved through technological solutions alone, criticizing attempts to apply tech fixes to inherently non-technical problems.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
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Keywords

AFAIK Q.E puri.sm e.g HN OS GREAT NSA DNA technology solve problems technical social solutions tech solution solved isn easy

Sample Comments

tonyedgecombe Dec 31, 2016 View on HN

I don't think it's a problem that can be solved by more technology.

flangola7 Aug 16, 2023 View on HN

It's not a technological issue, it's entirely societal. Trying to find technical solutions to social problems is a common but mega mistake.

gjulianm Nov 21, 2021 View on HN

It's a basic fact. If a problem is caused by something that is not related to lack of technology, you won't solve it with a technical solution. This is obvious in any other field (for example, you won't see a doctor that says that drugs could fix poverty) but a lot of tech people don't seem capable of admitting that some problems cannot be solved by technology.

Mz Apr 4, 2011 View on HN

The solution to social problems is rarely purley technological.That's what I keep saying. Have an upvote.

VoodooJuJu Aug 3, 2022 View on HN

Technology is not the solution here, it's the problem.

angrycoder Nov 30, 2011 View on HN

Agreed. This isn't a tech problem, this is a social problem. There is nothing wrong with the current technology, we don't need more code to solve this.

stevage Nov 6, 2022 View on HN

Does someone think there's a technology problem here to solve?

gmerc Jul 15, 2023 View on HN

What makes you think tech actually solves problems people have ;)

throwaway48476 Nov 19, 2024 View on HN

You can't solve a social problem with technology.

d_silin Jun 14, 2021 View on HN

Understand that you can't solve society-wide issues with technology alone.