Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that outlines five levels of human needs, arranged in a pyramid. Starting with the basics, it includes physiological needs (like food and shelter), safety needs (security and stability), love and belonging (relationships and connections), esteem (confidence and recognition), and finally self-actualization (personal growth and achieving potential). The idea is that you focus on meeting lower-level needs before moving on to higher ones.

Technology plays a role in each of these levels in today’s world. At the physiological level, it helps with basic needs like ordering food through apps or tracking health with fitness devices. For safety, we rely on tools like GPS for navigation, antivirus software, or two-factor authentication for online security. At the love and belonging level, social media and messaging apps keep us connected to loved ones and foster relationships. When it comes to esteem, sharing accomplishments on LinkedIn or getting recognition for creative projects online builds confidence. Finally, technology supports self-actualization by providing access to online courses, creative tools, and platforms like YouTube or coding programs to help us grow and reach our goals. Technology is deeply woven into every layer of Maslow’s framework, helping us meet needs both basic and aspirational.