How Technology Is Effecting Us
Health and Technology
Technology can have a large impact on users' mental and physical health. Being overly connected can cause psychological issues such as distraction, narcissism, expectation of instant gratification, and even depression. Beside affecting users' mental health, use of technology can also have negative repercussions on physical health causing vision problems, hearing loss, and neck strain. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to help alleviate these health issues. Technology and Psychological Issues
The headline of a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project is a good summary of the current debate on how the rapid growth of technology will effect our minds: “Millennials will benefit and suffer due to their hyper connected lives.” Pew surveyed “technology experts and stakeholders,” who generally agreed that those who best capitalize on new technologies will be able to effectively find and sift through large amounts of information as quickly as possible. On the flip side, technology may make us impatient, subject to frequent distraction, and desperate for constant entertainment.
In a recent book, Professor Larry Rosen of California State University, Dominguez Hills posits that many people today could be diagnosed with what he calls an iDisorder. Rosen summarizes the disorder this way in an article: “An iDisorder is where you exhibit signs and symptoms of a psychiatric disorder such as OC
Whether or not changes in our behavior due to technology use classify as a disorder, there is no denying that technology is affecting the way our minds operate. It remains to be seen exactly how technology will affect our psyches, but some changes are already starting to become apparent.
Distraction Caused by Technology
In a recent book, Professor Rosen of California State University, Dominguez Hills conducted a study of high school students to determine how technological distractions affected their study habits. He discovered that students could concentrate for an average of a measly three minutes at a stretch. The major culprit behind their lack of focus? Technology.
Students who tended to “multitask” (or, really, to change tasks frequently) or to check Facebook even once during the 15-minutes they were monitored were likely to be poor students. Students reported that even without the constant reminders provided by notification lights and sounds, they were internally preoccupied with whether anyone was trying to get in touch with them or commenting on their statuses.
Technology and Expectation of Instant Gratification
As our technology moves faster, our patience grows thinner. A huge study from UMass Amherst, which surveyed 6.7 million users, showed that viewers tend to abandon online videos if they take more than 2 seconds to load. Most users stay on a single web page long enough to read only 20% of the text on that page, according to a survey by the Nielsen Norman Group.
On an emotional level, posting a Facebook status, a tweet, or an Instagram photo feeds on and reinforces our need for instant approving feedback. Becoming too used to instant gratification in the virtual world can lead to poor choices and major frustrations in the real world.
Technology and Narcissism
Despite its potential to help us make connections, technology can also encourage and provide an outlet for a me-centered mentality. A study from the University of Western Illinois investigated the relationship between two aspects of narcissism—grandiose exhibitionism and entitlement/exploitativeness—and Facebook behavior.
Those who scored high on a test for grandiose exhibitionism tended to use Facebook for self-promoting activities, such as frequently updating statuses and posting photos. Those who showed high levels of entitlement were likely to exhibit anti-social Facebook behaviors, such as reacting angrily to critical comments and posting in ways that sought support without supporting their friends in turn. If you find yourself constantly changing your profile picture and getting upset when fewer than 50 people like your status, it may be time to take a long hard look in the mirror and reconsider your behavior. Narcissists like staring at mirrors, anyhow.
Technology and Cognitive Losses
A study of Chinese youths with Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) showed that internet-addicted adolescents tended to have reduced gray matter and white matter in key areas of the brain associated with “cognitive control” and “goal-directed behavior.” The damage varied according to the duration of the subjects’ internet addiction, which may indicate that the negative effects of the disorder are progressive.
Social Issues
Technology and Deficits in Social Skills
Too much time interacting with technology and too little time interacting with humans in the same room can lead to some serious social difficulties. For instance, girls ages 8 to 12 who spend a lot of time consuming media and attempting to multitask report lower self-esteem and more difficulty socializing compared to their less media-driven peers, according to a study by Stanford researchers.
The antidote to this problem, according to study author Clifford Nass, is for children to spend more time interacting with others face-to-face and thereby learning crucial skills in emotional recognition.
Technology and Sense of Isolation
There has been a lot of buzz about technology’s negative impact on in-person engagement, but a 2009 Pew Center for Internet and American Life survey revealed some surprisingly encouraging facts. For instance, Pew found that, despite the smaller number of people in the average American’s “discussion network” in 2009 vs. in 1985, those who had cell phones and used the internet more had more diverse discussion networks. The study challenged common perceptions that the internet pulls people away from local connections, chance meetings in public places like cafes, and neighborhood engagement, instead finding that internet usage often facilitated these types of interactions. Of course, it is common sense that hibernating with your laptop can create a sense of social isolation, but the Pew survey provides strong evidence against alarmist views of technology’s impact on our social lives.
Technology and Depression
An AMA study in 2012 showed that our round-the-clock exposure to artificial light—even low-level light from computer and TV screens—can throw off our circadian rhythms, with negative effects from depression and mood disorders to increased risk for cancer.Health Issues
Technology and Vision Problems
Aside from its effect on our psychological and social well being, spending a large portion of they day in front of a screen can lead to a panoply of physical health issues. Here are some examples of problems and some ideas for prevention and treatment.
Time identifies “Computer Vision Syndrome” as the complex of problems associated with excessive screen time, including eyestrain, blurred vision, and dry eyes.
Solutions and Prevention
- Don’t forget to blink! It may sound silly, but we tend to blink less frequently than normal when using a computer. If this doesn’t help, try using artificial tears.
- Take a 20-20-20 break. The Mayo Clinic advises staring at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. As an added bonus, staring into the middle distance can be a much-needed break for a tech-addled mind.
- Make sure your work space conditions are optimal. Try to put your computer in a location with adequate lighting and minimal glare, about 20 to 40 inches away from your eyes. Also, watch out for air sources near your desk that can dry out your eyes.
- Try a mini-massage. Massaging the muscle around your eyes can help combat fatigue and strain.
General Solutions for Healthy Technology Use
- Take breaks, both large and small. A tech break can be as small as stepping away from your desk to take a short walk across the room or as large as declaring a technology blackout for an entire day each week.
- Examine your motivations. Try cutting down on the number of posts or status updates you make each day. Ask yourself whether you are posting for narcissistic reasons or with true connection as a goal.
- Give your work or entertainment space an ergonomic makeover. Why not devote some time to improving the places where you spend so much of your day? A better-placed desk chair or better lighting can make a huge impact on your physical and emotional well-being.
- Turn off the lights—all of them. To avoid disrupting your sleep rhythms, turn off all your screens an hour or two before you go to bed and give your eyes a rest.
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