Future of us
The Effects of Technology
By- Riya Patel
Technology affects us in numerous ways. Many are negative repercussions on our physical health such as hearing loss, vision problems, and neck strain. It also affects people’s mental health as well. Many might say that technology may cause psychological issues such as narcissism, distraction, and even depression. In this article, I'm going to be discussing how technology affects our bodies, mental health, and everyday life., as well as the dangers of technology.
How does technology affect your body?
Technology can affect the body in many negative ways than positive. Technology usage can cause physical effects on your body such as neck strain, vision issues as well as hearing problems. Several technological factors may lead to vision problems such as screen brightness, screen time, screen glare, poor posture, and viewing the screen too close or too far. You can reduce the chance of eyestrain by taking regular breaks away from the screen and get regular eye check ups. Did you know that using your phone before bed can also cause issues with your sleep? Well it can. Professionals say not to use electronic devices an hour or two before bed time. It can cause health issues as well due to a decrease in exercise and fitness levels. Health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and premature death may occur overtime with excessive use of technology.
How does technology affect your mental health?
There are many negative effects that technology can have on your mental health. Especially nowadays since kids and teenagers have an addiction to social media, it plays a huge role in mental health. A study has shown that excessive social media usage creates an increased risk for depression, self harm, loneliness, anxiety, and may even trigger suicidal thoughts. Depression and anxiety may arise because human beings need face to face communication to be mentally stable. The more you rank social media interaction over in person communication, the more you are at risk for developing mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. The overuse of technology and social media have a significant effect on developing children and teenagers. It is very important to take breaks from technology and not to get carried away with it. Limit yourself and take time for your mental health.
How does technology affect your everyday life?
Technology has a major impact in people’s lives. It's quick and easy to use. It gives us better knowledge and understanding of things. Not to mention, everything nowadays is digital and done online. Newer generations use technology in school and work. Some positive aspects of social media are that it helps you to seek or offer emotional support during rough times, find new friends and communities to talk to, it acts like an outlet for your self expression and creativity, learn valuable information, and communicate with family and friends and stay up to date. It has given us better access to information, flexible working, smarter health tracking, better communication, and attainable shopping.
Dangers of technology?
The usage of technology as well as social media may lead to psychological and physical issues. There are many negative aspects of social media as well. Such as cyberbullying, isolation, fear of missing out (FOMO), depression and anxiety and inadequacy about your life or even appearance. Cyberbullying is a major part of social media on many many platforms. About 10% of teenagers have reported being bullied on social media. Spreading hurtful rumors, abuse and lies can leave long lasting emotional marks. Feelings of isolation can also arise from the use of social media. Another large problem many people face is FOMO which is the fear of missing out. The mentality that you’re missing out on certain things can impact your self confidence and also trigger anxiety. This may also pressure you to pick up your phone and use social media as well as check your phone every alert.
In Conclusion
It is important to know the amount of technology you use daily and also to take breaks. Adults should limit screen time outside of work to less than two hours per day. For younger kids, one hour per day is recommended.