by Breanna Adamick

Technology is a very hot topic—it has been for years and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. In this day and age, it is fascinating to consider the world prior to the highly advanced technology we have now, which more and more of us have spent a lot of our lives already accustomed to, having grown up with much of it. As far as we have come, technology is here to stay and continue to grow, seemingly endlessly, taking over more and more of our lives. 

Of course, you cannot escape or get rid of technology, and no one truly wants to anyway. That would be taking a huge step backwards in society and life. Technology has by and large improved the world, allowing us to gain knowledge and complete tasks with increasing convenience and speed. So many people, companies and organizations rely heavily on technology on a daily basis, and it is an incredible tool in their daily functions. Schools, as well, rely on technology, as we all know too well. Classes can be fully online now, assignments are frequently turned in using your computer instead of paper and much of a student’s day involves staring at a screen out of necessity.  

All this said, it is unsurprising to learn that “technology addiction” is an affliction that exists. Not only do we spend much of each day looking at a screen for school or work, but often when the work for the day is done, we relax by watching television, playing video games or even just messing around on our phones. There is never a break from technology anymore, which does not seem entirely healthy. Even if you are not on a computer, watching a TV screen or playing an electronic game, we all travel around with smartphones in our pockets, frequently checking them for notifications or anything of interest. 

It can feel like a reflexive motion, at times, to reach for your phone and check the screen, not even for a specific reason—just to check. This is not a rare instinct to be guilty of these days—I can easily recall instances where the reflex to check my phone, without the necessity to do so, has taken over before I can stop it. 

One of the main ways that a technology addiction can impact a person’s life is by distracting them from important tasks in their work or school life, or sometimes even keeping their attention from important things or people in their personal life.  

In relation to a student’s life with technology, it has been reported that approximately nine percent of college students endorse that internet and computer games have affected their academic performance. Additionally, 36 percent of 18- to 29-year-old individuals are reported to be almost constantly online. It is estimated that around one in eight internet users may have a technology or internet addiction. These are alarming, if not predictable, numbers. Technology addiction is defined as a process addiction that is a mood altering, compulsive behavior pertaining to both technology usage as a whole, as well as the internet specifically.  

As far as technology negatively impacting an individual’s personal life, the idea of it creating distance in some relationships seems backwards, given the easy communication and online interaction it provides. I believe the negative effect of technology in one’s personal life largely stems from its interruption during in-person interactions. Often it can feel as if you are competing with a smartphone for someone’s attention, and sometimes…you are. Even in the midst of a whole conversation with someone, you may not truly have their focus due to the phone in their hand, where they are likely carrying on a whole other conversation while only half-hearing what you have to say. It can be hurtful when it feels like someone does not care enough to truly listen or interact with you by setting down their phone, and that is a very common occurrence today. The danger is that this behavior is so common that it is not brought up as a problem enough—it is just accepted, despite the hurt it may cause. 

Technology can negatively affect our physical health, as well. There are reasons behind why blue light glasses exist, or why health professionals strongly encourage you to turn your phone off while you sleep. Firstly, blue light blocking glasses are highly relevant because of the amount of time almost any given individual will spend staring at a screen, especially at night, with the artificial blue light emanating continuously from it. In the daytime, blue light is not so harmful, as we already receive blue light from the sun and even artificially it can boost your attention span and mood. When blue light is frequently used at nighttime, however, it can be disruptive to sleep by inhibiting the production of melatonin in our bodies.  

Additionally, failing to turn off or silence your cell phone during sleep often results in multiple awakenings throughout the night as texts or calls come in at odd hours. Despite it being a time for rest, individuals often cannot resist the urge to check the notification that has just appeared on the screen, therefore giving them another blast of blue light at a time when they should be asleep.  

Besides the poor effect on your sleep, blue light can also cause significant eye strain. Around 80 percent of Americans use a digital device for more than two hours per day, with some of them using multiple devices at the same time, and about 59 percent of those people exhibit symptoms of eye strain. Our eyes are not designed to effectively block blue light, so nearly all visible blue light goes straight through the eye to the retina. This can be particularly damaging for children’s eyes, as their eyes naturally absorb more blue light than adults’ eyes do.  

This is not to say that we should cut out a lot of our technology use, as that is not feasible. However, considering the time of day you are using your technology is important. Using digital devices while the sun is shining is vastly better for you than using it at nighttime, as your body does not require melatonin production in the daytime. Still, attempting to limit the time of your technology use is always a good idea because of the great potential for eye strain staring at a screen poses, not to mention all the life you may miss out on when you are too busy online.  

While technology has changed the world in so many positive ways, there are still quite a few negative aspects that we should remain cautious about. If we can implement a healthier balance between the amount of time we use technology and the amount of time we do not, we could all be on our way to healthier living, physically, mentally and interpersonally. Technology is incredible, but when in excess, it can take a lot more from your life than it can give.