The Moral Implications Of Technological Progress And How It Affects People's Health

Abstract

The digital transformation of health ecosystems—particularly in mental healthcare—has advanced rapidly in recent years through technologies like teletherapy platforms, AI-based chatbots, and mobile health apps. While such innovations have broadened access and enabled early intervention, particularly in underserved populations, they have also introduced deep moral and psychological challenges stemming from unregulated screen exposure, privacy breaches, and technostress. This paper explores the dual impact of technological progress on human well-being, integrating ethical imperatives into the design, implementation, and governance of mental health technologies. Through empirical data drawn from global innovation indexes and well-being scores, coupled with case-based ethical analysis, this study argues that inclusive and evidence-grounded digital policy is essential to ensure technology promotes—not undermines—psychological health and social equity.