Is Technology killing Us

I have a confession to make. I’m addicted to my phone. I wake up, look at my phone, and continue checking it throughout the day. It’s become such a habit that I feel like it tearing me away from reality.

But the thing is, I’m not alone in this addiction; we are all connected through technology. While this may seem like just another trend or fad, there are some serious negative consequences that are starting to surface on the horizon.

According to a study done by the University of Maryland, “people who reported using their phone for at least three hours a day had 60 percent more cortisol and nearly 50 percent higher insulin resistance.”

Excessive levels of cortisol can cause mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress. With that being said, it is not surprised that many students are having difficulty coping with the everyday stresses of life. Now let's look at how technology impacts us positively and negatively.

The positive and negative impact of technology

Positive Impact Of Technology;

Technology has been improving our lives in many ways. We are able to have access to information that was previously unattainable. Technology also improves the educational experience, which helps people to learn more effectively. Working with other who are located across the world has never been easier through virtual teams.

Negative Impact of Technology;

There is a downside to this progress though, in that people are increasingly isolating themselves from others. The lack of human contact can be detrimental because it takes away our ability to socialize or interact with others face-to-face. Researchers have found that social media may be responsible for feeling a decrease in empathy among adolescents as well as an increase in depression rates among young adults. Another study found that the more time people spend on Facebook, the less satisfied they are with their own lives.

What's the real cause of the problem?

The real cause of the problem is right in front of us. Technology is designed to provide us with a never-ending stream of information, and unfortunately, this has come at the cost of other things. We are more connected than ever before, but at what cost?

We have become unable to sit and be present with what is happening around us. Our attention spans are shorter, and people are less likely to spend time with others in-person because they can connect through technology so easily.

The desire for more information also adds up as a negative consequence of technology. Constant distractions keep us from focusing on the task at hand and provide an escape for our mind to wander. In today’s work environment, it is harder to unplug and relax because we can always check our emails or be bombarded with a new text message.

What you can do about it

Although technology has been a cause of problems, the solution does not lie in becoming completely disconnected from technology. The solution lies in using the positive aspects of technology to help us improve our lives;

• one step is turning off your phone and taking a walk outside.

In addition, it’s important for us to establish limits with social media so that we are not always tempted to check our account or be bombarded by constant updates from our friends.

To wrap things up

To wrap things up, it is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of how technology impacts our lives. Although technology has had adverse effects on our society, we also need to recognize that it has allowed us to connect with each other in a way that would not have been possible without it.

The overall consequence of how technology affects us is largely dependent on how much time we decide to spend connected to the outside world.

So next time if you are tempted to check your phone, take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. It’s important for us to take a step back from technology every now and then in order to take a real look around us.