Technology is rapidly growing and has become an essential part of society. It makes many tasks easier to accomplish and gives people quick access to information. As helpful and important as technology is, it does have negative impacts such as technology addiction and dependency, increased mental health problems, and distractions in the classroom.
Smart phones are used by the majority of the population to share and receive information and stay connected with the world around them. However, some people, especially teens, find the compulsive need to check their phones constantly in fear of missing out on something important. Technology stimulates the brain and with the endless amount of websites and apps, teens take up hours of their day on their phones.
“Dr. Richard Freed, a child and adolescent psychologist says it is past time to start calling teenagers’ attachments to these devices—or more accurately their applications—what it is: addiction” (Walker). A study in 2016 revealed that 50% of teenagers felt addicted to their phones. The brain reacts to the use of technology the same way it reacts to other addictive substances like alcohol or gambling. Technology gives people instant gratification and makes them dependent on constantly being entertained and getting what they want right away.
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Nomophobia, or the fear of being without a mobile phone, is growing in today’s society. People are dependent on their phones so they can be in touch with the world around them. As technology use increases, so will the number of people addicted and dependent on their phones. “People who exhibited problematic use were also more likely to suffer from other psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder], and OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder]” (Konnikova).
Aside from being used as a security blanket, technology use can cause many mental health problems. According to Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, “rates of unhappiness among teens began to increase in 2012, which is the first year in which the majority of Americans owned a smartphone” (Twenge). From an annual study conducted on 10th-12th graders, it was found that teens who spent more of their free time on their phones were less happy than teens spending time playing sports or spending time with friends.
Self-esteem has also decreased as social media becomes more popular. Teens spend lots of time comparing themselves to each other and with social media, they worry about the amount of likes and followers they have. Seeing posts from events that they aren’t at can cause FOMO (fear of missing out) or make teens feel excluded. Cell phone use has also lead to increases in OCD and social anxiety disorders. Teens stress about what they post, the amount of likes it will get, the amount of followers they have compared to the amount their friends have.
Phones allow people to avoid face to face situations and hide behind their screens instead, which has also caused an increase in cyberbullying. As the number of teens with cell phones grows, so does cyberbullying. Social media can be an easy place for teens to cyberbully, since bullies can anonymously post harmful texts, pictures, or videos about another person. The posts are online, which allows many people to be able to share and comment, sometimes causing an even bigger problem than traditional bullying.
Technology has been a very big impact in schools and many schools have made the switch to using tablets or computers instead of books and paper. As convenient as this has been, technology in the classroom draws students attention away from their lessons and towards texting and games. Hundreds of schools have completely banned cell phone use in class. Steve Gardiner, a retired high school teacher says, “When the cell phone is in front of them, they are completely focused on it. When the cell phone is in the backpack, they are worried because they can’t see it” (Gardiner). Many teenagers feel tempted to use their phones when they are in front of them. “We’ve had to psychiatrically hospitalize kids when parents try to set limits on phones or take them away. Police are sometimes called. Teachers are confronting the same thing in schools every day,” says Dr. Richard Freed (Walker).
In conclusion, technology is crucial to our world today and when used and limited correctly, has many advantages. However, many people don’t know when enough technology is enough. With the increased use in smart phones and tablets, so is the increase in addiction, dependency, distractions, cyberbullying, and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and OCD. Setting limits and managing technology responsibly and mindfully can decrease these problems.
Works Cited
- Rahim, Olivia. ‘Mobile Device Separation Anxiety Is a Growing Problem.’ Does the Internet Increase Anxiety?, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2016. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010967202/ OVIC?u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=d9e82ad2. Accessed 20 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘When a Modern Smartphone Affliction Leads to Addiction,’ Social, 20 Aug. 2014.
- Gardiner, Steve. ‘Students’ Phone Dependency Mimics Chemical Dependency.’ Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http:// link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/GHPXBJ784025076/OVIC? u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=4b516826. Accessed 20 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘The Student Cellphone Addiction Is No Joke,’ Education Week, 26 Apr. 2016.
- Keller, Jared. ‘We Are All Internet Addicts Now—Just Don’t Call It That.’ The Internet, edited by Jack Lasky, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010236276/OVIC? u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=a65c2516. Accessed 20 Dec. 2018. Originally published in Pacific Standard, 30 May 2013.
- Konnikova, Maria. ‘Internet Addiction Is a Legitimate Mental Condition.’ The Internet, edited by Jack Lasky, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010236275/OVIC? u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=da18e5e8. Accessed 20 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘Is Internet Addiction a Real Thing?’ New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2014.
- Twenge, Jean. ‘What might explain the unhappiness epidemic?’ Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/ doc/ZGJTGL177951441/OVIC?u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=f5ecdf5d. Accessed 21 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘What might explain the unhappiness epidemic?’ The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2018.
- Walker, Tim. ‘Allowing Cell Phones in Schools Impacts the Learning Experience.’ Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http:// link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/VAABQX311303391/OVIC? u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=fcb22541. Accessed 21 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘By Opening the Door to Cell Phones, Are Schools Also Feeding an Addiction?’ NEA Today, 20 June 2016.
- Papazafeiropoulou, Anastasia. ‘Using Technology Mindfully Can Reduce Anxiety from Digital Overload.’ Does the Internet Increase Anxiety?, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2016. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http:// link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010967209/OVIC? u=anna32661&sid=OVIC&xid=757d4b8f. Accessed 21 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘Approach Your Laptop Mindfully to Avoid Digital Overload,’ The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2014.
