Jermiah Robinson

February 8th, 2024

CYSE 201S – Cybersecurity

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

            All humans will have needs out in the world. Extremely important ones like food and water. Needs like a secure environment and our health to even just self esteem and fitting a good purpose. All these needs through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs sorts all these needs into what is a definite requirement to personal. It goes from psychological, to safety, to feeling loved and belonging in a society, to esteem needs and down to self needs. However, these needs are much different when portrayed through technology.

            In society today, technology is an emerging psychological need that is ever growing. With so many useful apps and the ability to search up any answer on the internet has made this a crucial psychological need. Even losing a phone can cause people distress and potentially may lead to depression with how important a mobile device is now. Even computers are expensive and if lost, can also cause distress.

            With these needs come security needs. Cybersecurity fits this perfectly as having security is vital in the online world. Having safeguards against hackers to having an antivirus makes the device to society feel protected and secure from the wrong hands. Privacy acts also verify security needs and lets people know that their data will remain protected and that it will not go in the wrong hands for selling.

            Thanks to social media and blogs, the esteem need is satisfied all through technology as well. Social media allows connection over the internet which means easy international talk with other people. Not only that, but a space also to share thoughts and opinions with other people nearby. This gives feeling of belonging, especially in communities. With blogs, people post all about their day for others to view and respond to.

            Lastly, social media is great, but it can have its downsides on self. Constant use of social media could lead to addiction and doom scrolling, which is the act of constantly scrolling and reading news that leaves people in a negative mood. However, even with this downsides of social media, digital skills develop. These skills can then have use for employment which can also through social media and hiring websites.

            In conclusion, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs fits technology needs with humans. The internet is fully public and as society moves on to the online web, the needs of society transfer there too. While basic needs like food and water exist, these needs are starting to also have a new need over time which is our devices. Without these devices, calls cannot happen, social media has no use, and even instant messaging will not work. Society has started to adapt fully to this, and our needs will only grow for technology as the years go by.

Works Cited

“Cybersecurity and Human Factors.” Google Slides, Google, docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Pu-cc9TbhaUrHTSDNGt5wkNpeLp5CIEG/edit#slide=id.p1. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024.