Final answer:
Job displacement and unemployment, represented by Option 3, is a negative impact of technology on society. Disruptive technologies have led to loss of traditional jobs, changes in societal structures, and contributed to the digital divide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the listed options, Option 3: Job displacement and unemployment is a negative impact of technology on society. Technological advancements have brought tremendous benefits to society, such as improved healthcare systems and enhanced communication; however, one adverse effect is the displacement of jobs. The rise of digital technologies has rendered certain job roles obsolete.
For instance, the transition to digital photography led to a decline of traditional film companies like Kodak, causing job losses and affecting communities such as Rochester, New York. Similarly, the music industry shifted from physical stores to online platforms, resulting in the closure of record stores and changing the community dynamics.
Furthermore, the industrialization process has diverted work from rural agricultural settings to factory towns and cities, creating a significant societal shift. Individuals had to adapt to a new lifestyle, often losing the familiarity of agricultural life for the fast-paced environment of industrial cities.
Today, technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence are causing a similar shift, with manufacturing and mining jobs especially being affected, turning bustling industrial regions into parts of the Rust Belt. The technological advancements, although beneficial in various ways, also introduce the challenge of the digital divide, where there is a growing gap between those with access to technology and those without, exacerbating economic inequalities.
While some technologies promote environmental sustainability through digitalization and more efficient practices, such as online shopping potentially reducing individual carbon footprints, the rapid pace of change and its wider effects on employment and societal structures cannot be ignored. The societal impact of disruptive technology can be sudden and severe, demanding attention to the consequences beyond the intended positive outcomes.