Negative Impacts of Technology by Kinshuk Mukherjee
Social skills:
Vast use of tech solutions is likely to result in poor social skills. Business meetings are held over Skype and kids chat in messenger rather than call on granny or meet up with a friend in person. On the face of it, technology appears to create global network bringing people together. But in fact, this replaces real-life communication and ends in social isolation. Moreover, strong social bonds are replaced with a number of shallow “friends” in social networks. As a result, people might feel lonely and depressed. We’ve got into the habit of living in our own world and staring at the device screen even when surrounded by people. When we replace real-life interaction with online communication, we lose the ability to read social cues like tone of voice, facial expression, body language, and direct wording. On top of it, violent games and videos kill empathy and bring destruction into individual’s life.
Education:
The Internet has become a great tool for learning. You can google any information you need rather than spend time in the library or attend the course online without leaving home. Yet, tech involvement doesn’t always guarantee the quality of education. Children sometimes overuse technology in the classroom which obviously affects the learning process in a negative way. Plagiarism and cheating have increased while analysis and critical thinking have declined. This puts young generation thinking abilities in jeopardy. Various studies claim that the more students use entertainment technologies like games or social media, the less they perform academically. Instead of reading and doing homework, modern kids indulge in entertainment. A similar situation goes for the Internet: using the Web to search information is linked to higher grades while online gaming or socializing is associated with lower exam results. The reason for it is the distraction caused by games, messages, and videos. Young people have a hard time focusing attention at the lessons and resisting impulsive behavior.
Physical effects:
Among the most dangerous effects of technology is obesity. Being absorbed by a laptop or a tablet, people tend to snack a lot, keep late hours and exercise less. The more time you sit in front of the PC, the lesser is the blood circulation in your body, not to speak of the neck and head pain. Moreover, sedentary life is the reason why many people have a curved backbone and bad posture as a result. Constant staring at the screen might be the reason for headaches and poor eyesight. Also dancing with iPod in the street may seem cool, yet it may be harmful to your ears. Loud music in headphones is likely to cause hearing loss and ringing in the ears. Gadgets can also provoke the tendonitis in the thumb caused by repeated use of thumbs to push buttons on devices or playing too many games.
Privacy and security:
If being misused, technology can expose you to a number of risks. Especially vulnerable are kids. One in three teenagers reported being victims of cyberbullying. The offenders use text messages, social media or forums to reach out the target. The internet is now also where online sex crimes take place. Sexting is another risky behavior teens might be exposed to. 39% of teens admitted sending sext messages, and almost half of the teenagers received texts containing nudity. With huge population using the Internet, it gives rise to cybercrime. Today it’s easier than ever before to find someone’s personal information as the borders of privacy is blurred. With a few clicks, you can now discover Facebook page with all the contact information, pictures, whereabouts and many more. The information obtained can be used by cheaters for hacking and viruses.
Mental health:
One of the most dramatic impacts of technology is the decline of the quality and quantity of sleep. The sleep chemical melatonin is influenced by the constant glow from screens. So keeping technology is likely to interfere with your sleep and effects your general state. What is even more serious is that people become addicted to technology. This has a detrimental effect on person’s health and social life, and destroys social and family bonds. Among other mental problems caused by computers is a new type of stress called The chronic Smartphone Stress. It is caused by notifications (or their absence), constant anticipation of a message or e-mail. If a person doesn’t get enough attention, this can make you feel stressed or even depressed. Excessive information space, exaggerated online reality, internet overuse, and social comparison are all factors potentially provoking depressive behavior.
Addiction to electronic gadgets:
The need to constantly look at ones phone, to continuously check emails and respond to every beep or ring has lead to addiction to gadgets. People with gadget addiction have higher levels of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) – a chemical that slows down signals in the brain. This chemical is linked to vision, motor control, and various other brain functions.
Always-on lifestyle:
According to Pew Research Center, we exchange an average of 109 messages on a normal workday. Our work hours have increased by about five hours a day because of staying connected, in office and after work hours. Its impact is not just limited to individuals. Addiction to technology and continuous access to it are contributing to a societal dearth of sleep. Some of the common health problems caused due to over use of gadgets are: carpal tunnel in the wrist, bulging discs in the neck and back, stress, damaged eyesight, sleeping disorders, depression and weight gain. These health issues affect a person’s performance at work, leading to increased absenteeism and a decrease in mental and physical capacity to perform well at work.
How to reduce negative effects of technology on children:
It’s not quite possible to remove the technology to avoid all the risks. Yet we as parents can moderate the use of gadgets and reduce the negative impact of technology on our children for them to take best of the Tech Age. Consider the ideas below:
- Monitor and limit the use of technology. It’s of great importance to know how much and in what way your kid uses devices. A number of parental control tools come up with various restrictions of screen time and content to be applied for child’s gadgets. Consider utilizing such software to set boundaries for screen time allowed as well as apps and web content to be viewed.
- Teach responsibility and conscious behavior. Talk to your child about privacy in cyberspace and potential risks and dangers. Simulate cases and discuss how to face the challenges online. Explain possible consequences of inappropriate behavior and device misuse.
- Keep up with tech industry spin. Take interest in current digital trends that are popular among youth. This will help you to recognize and deal with the issues early in.
- Find alternatives to technology. Encourage your kid to read paper books instead of electronic ones. Ask your child to indulge in a hobby, like playing football, not an online game. Organize a family time with no electronic devices. Be an example and remember it’s never too late to bring positive changes in your kid’s life to avoid negative effects of technology.