Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has five levels to the pyramid. The first is physiological—having access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Technology has expanded so that we can have Uber to pick us up from anywhere and bring us to a destination.

The second level of the hierarchy is safety. As technology has improved, the internet has capacity to hold and send personal information such as identification, social security information, and credit card information. Lacking security can lead to various issues including, but not limited to, identity theft, theft of private information, and stealing money, undermining personal safety.

The third level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is belonging, which refers to an individual’s experience feeling accepted. Experiencing the impacts of Covid-19 showed how disconnected and alone I was from the world, but with technology like FaceTime and Zoom, I was able to more easily stay in touch with family and friends.

Esteem is the fourth level, which is having confidence and achievement in oneself. There are many technological avenues that can help build esteem. LinkedIn is used to display professional achievements. It also provides a network to share different opportunities and events to empower users to grow in their fields of work. Instagram allows me to show aspects of my life through photographs. This technology has the ability to inspire confidence in users, for example, receiving positive comments on photos that you post.

The final level of the hierarchy is self-actualization, which is realizing the full potential in life and becoming one’s best self. It is nearly impossible to become perfect, but technology offers programs like Duolingo to provide easy ways of learning languages, so that I can continue the journey of education and reach the highest goals in life.