The True Cost of Using Tech: A blog about the devastating effects of technology

In today’s world, we are surrounded by technologies that are supposed to make our lives easier. While some of the advancements are positive (such as the invention of the smartphone or the television), other inventions without warning or explanation have adverse effects on our bodies and minds. This has become a growing concern in today’s society, where so many people use multiple electronic devices while they work that they appear to be “literally” plugged into them.

Technology can have the same effect on people as using drugs

The internet and technology can be addicting. The dopamine rush we get from technology is similar to that of a drug.

We get a rush when we get an email, a “like” on Facebook, and a text message. This rush of dopamine makes us want more. It’s like gambling and the next day you go back for more. The brain is trained to seek out rewards and becomes addicted to social media, texting, and emails. We all know people who are on their phones all of the time, even at the dinner table or grocery store.

How do we know that our brain responds in this manner? We see it with other addictions. For example, the brain responds similarly to a cocaine addict: they are aware of what they are doing (compulsive behavior) but continue the behavior regardless.

Blue light can lead to bad sleep

The blue light on screens can reduce melatonin production, leading to sleep disruption and insomnia. The production of melatonin is triggered by the presence of darkness. When it starts getting dark, your brain produces the hormone, which helps you fall asleep. In the morning, when it’s lights out, your brain stops producing melatonin so that you’ll wake up.

Screens produce blue light that mimics daylight, which tricks your brain into thinking it is still daytime. This triggers a reduction in your body’s natural melatonin production and disrupts your circadian rhythms. The result is difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It’s recommended that you turn off your screens an hour or two before bedtime.

Too much screen time can hurt interpersonal relationships.

It’s obvious that spending too much time in front of a screen is bad for you. Your eyes ache, your back hurts, and your brain starts to feel like mush. And while the physical effects of spending too much time in front of a screen are bad enough, recent studies have shown that there are also some serious mental health issues associated with too much screen time.

Screen addiction has been shown to reduce our ability to concentrate, make us less empathic, interfere with sleep patterns, and increase feelings of anxiety and depression. But there are other consequences as well: being addicted to screens can negatively affect our interpersonal relationships.

In a world where we have instant access to information and people at all times, it’s hard not to be sucked into the technology vortex 24/7. We start our day by checking email on our phones before we even get out of bed. We check social media on the way to work or school to stay connected with friends and family. Then, when we get to work or class, we spend most of our waking hours staring at a computer screen. Because of that, we get depressed or anxious. Social media, which is built around getting “likes” and positive feedback, can make us feel like we don’t measure up to others and be a trigger for depression or anxiety.

Social Media can lead to a bigger risk of suicide

For kids, social media is a highly appealing alternative to the often mundane realities of their daily lives. Social media provides a platform where they can anonymously express their thoughts, feelings, and desires. The traditional “rules” of how people behave no longer apply. It’s like being in a virtual Wild West, which appeals to children and teens who are trying to figure out what they want and don’t want in the real world.

Unfortunately, the Internet is not the safest place for children. There are far too many examples of bullying, abuse, and other inappropriate interactions that have occurred on social media. It’s not clear whether social media use is directly linked to teen depression and suicide, or if it’s just a symptom of the problem. However, studies show that teens who are heavy social media users are up to three times more likely to have at least one suicide risk factor, such as feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide. Several studies suggest that Instagram is the worst app for mental health and well-being because it can trigger feelings of inadequacy in young people.

There are simple ways to reduce tech use and break unhealthy habits.

In this day and age, it’s hard to escape the constant pull of technology. We’re dependent on our smartphones, we can’t stop scrolling through Instagram and Facebook, and it’s become impossible to imagine a world without social media.

But while technology is a vital part of our daily lives, the more we use it, the more we realize that our constant connection to social media is harming us in more ways than one. If you feel like your screen time has been overtaking your life, here are some ways to reduce digital dependency:

Try turning off notifications on your phone. You don’t need to be notified — or interrupted — every time you get an email or someone likes one of your photos. If you see Instagram or Facebook notifications pop up for every little thing, you’ll be tempted to open those apps and check them out.

When you’re at home and out with friends, try putting your phone in another room so that you aren’t constantly checking texts and emails from family members throughout the night. That way you can focus on the people around you instead of paying attention to your phone.

Give yourself a break in between checking social media apps or refreshing your inbox so that you have time away from screens. It will prevent mental clutter and make you feel much better overall.

Conclusion

Perhaps the technology we use can be somewhat blamed for our poor mental health. But we also have to blame ourselves for not seeing the connection between our unhealthy relationship with technology and our poor bodies as well. At the end of the day, it’s a case of cause and effect — poor mental and physical health is a direct result of technology’s hand in our lives. And that’s not something we should stand for.