From Creepy to Convenient: Why We Normalize New Technology Faster Than We Think
I’ve noticed something fascinating about how we react to new technology.
At first, it felt creepy.
People feel uneasy, skeptical, even fearful. We worry about privacy, safety, and whether this new thing has crossed a line. But then, slowly, that discomfort fades. The technology becomes familiar. Eventually, it becomes normal and sometimes essential.
This pattern keeps repeating, and it reveals a lot about how humans really adopt innovation.
Every Innovation Starts With Distrust
Think about the early days of the internet.
People were genuinely afraid to enter their credit card information online. Sharing financial details through a computer felt risky and irresponsible. Today, online shopping is second nature. The fear didn’t disappear because the risk went away, it disappeared because convenience won.
The same thing happened with social media.
When Facebook introduced the newsfeed, users felt exposed. Suddenly, personal activity was visible in ways it never had been before. Many people thought it was invasive. But over time, that discomfort faded. What once felt intrusive became expected.
What we label as “creepy” is often just unfamiliar.
How Privacy Norms Quietly Shift
Facebook didn’t just introduce a new feature, it changed how we think about privacy. Information that once felt private became public by default. And instead of rejecting it, people adapted.
This is how technology reshapes social norms. Not through force, but through gradual acceptance. As long as the value is clear, people adjust their comfort levels.
Trust vs Efficiency in the Real World
Nowhere is this more obvious than in peer-to-peer marketplaces like Kijiji or Craigslist.
Most people using these platforms know there’s risk involved. You’re dealing with strangers. You’re sharing details about where you live or when you’ll meet. There’s real discomfort there.
And yet, millions of people still use them.
Why?
Because speed and convenience matter more than perfect trust.
I’ve felt that tension myself when selling something online. There’s always a moment of hesitation. Is this safe? Who is this person? But often, the desire to get something done quickly outweighs the concern.
How We Manage Risk Instead of Avoiding It
What’s interesting is that trust doesn’t disappear, it just becomes informal.
People rely on signals instead of guarantees:
How someone communicates
How fast they respond
Whether something feels off
Rather than eliminating risk, we learn to manage it. And platforms that understand this human behavior grow faster than those that assume people need absolute certainty.
Why “Creepy” Eventually Feels Normal
Every major technology follows the same cycle:
Initial discomfort
Public skepticism
Gradual acceptance
Full normalization
The driving force isn’t blind trust. It’s efficient. When a technology saves time, reduces friction, or makes life easier, people adapt even if it makes them uncomfortable at first.
Final Thoughts
Creepy technology isn’t new. It’s a phase.
What matters is whether the value outweighs the fear. And history shows that when convenience and speed are strong enough, society adjusts its boundaries to accommodate innovation.
The real lesson isn’t about technology itself, it's about human behavior. We don’t wait for comfort. We normalize what works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why do people feel scared of new technology?
People feel scared of new technology because it’s unfamiliar and unpredictable. New tools challenge habits and raise concerns about privacy, control, and safety. Fear usually comes from not knowing how something will affect daily life, not from the technology itself.
Q2. How has technology changed our definition of trust?
Technology has shifted trust from people to systems. Instead of relying on human judgment, users increasingly trust platforms, algorithms, and digital signals. Trust today is often based on usability and speed rather than transparency or understanding.
Q3. What does technology adoption reveal about human behavior?
Technology adoption shows that humans prioritize usefulness over certainty. People don’t wait for perfect trust or safety. If something works and saves time, society adjusts expectations and normalizes it over time.
About the Author:
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.