As governments around the world embrace industrialization and globalization as a panacea for economic development,

rapid technological progress has left little room for traditional cultural practices. Many fear that is unstoppable march of
technology has taken its toll many countries’ unique cultures and these two cannot coexist. However, there are valid
reasons why new advancements in technology is not necessarily detrimental to culture, as it does not only help preserve
cultural values, but also play a crucial part in their proliferation and international appreciation.

First and foremost, it is impossible to deny the role of digital storage in recording many traditions and customs that may
otherwise be lost to time. Cultures are inherently malleable. Under the pressures of its followers’ changing attitude or
outside influences, a culture will discard old customs and ideals for new ones in order to match the will of its people.
Before the invention of audio and video recording, many languages, songs, methods, beliefs, and other aspects making
up a culture has been lost forever, as what we were able to recover from the cold grips of time like written fragments,
archeological findings, and oral storytelling are not detailed enough. One notable example of lost culture due to time is
noted in the fragmented writings of Sappho of Lesbos. Authored by a woman in Ionian Greek, her poetry, despite being
extremely moving and charming, were never considered worthy of the papyrus. Thus, when her language faded out of
popular usage, all that remained of her literature is short lines accounted by her enthusiasts. However, future
generations no longer have to suffer from the mist of the past, because everything is now recorded. With cameras being
omnipresent, anyone can make a video of their traditions and rituals for later references. Dedicated archives of videos
also exist, protecting our current culture against any potential crisis. Without these technological advances, there is no
means of keeping a memory of every known culture worldwide.

Additionally, digital communications play an integral part in the promotion of many fascinating cultures worldwide, thus
garnering new appreciators and practitioners. Since the invention of the telegraph, telecommunications have helped
made the world an intimate, global village. Unburdened by geographical and language barriers, the tech-savvy portion of
all societies are making a concerted effort to promote their culture on the world stage by making blog posts, short video
clips and driving engagement. Inserting cultural references and icons into a more modern creative work is also a trendy
move on the part of content creators. Upon obtaining an international audience, a culture will be poised to catch the
attention of many more people. Many interesting cases of cross-cultural pollination born from technology can be
observed on social media. For instance, doner kebabs, a quintessentially Turkish foodstuff, has been the subject of
fascination of many Germans, especially Berliners, who are sharing their attempts at making this dish at home on various
social media platforms. Similarly, Vietnamese pho is enjoying its global popularity as many foreigners try their hands at
replicating its unique flavors at home.

In conclusion, despite many fearing the degradation of culture as technology advances because they gullably believe in
their incompatibility, I argue that technology complements culture perfectly, serving both as its archivist and promoter.