Breanne Sykes ENGL 1102 Adam Padgett March 7, 2014

Modern Technology Leads to Modern Addiction From endlessly checking social media to incessantly checking emails, it is safe to say that our society is in an unhealthy relationship with technology. Remaining constantly connected at all times, technology plays a pervasive role within our lives. Roles that include using cell phones to remain in touch with loved ones, or laptops to store vital information. Although these electronics have made the ability to obtain information faster and time-consuming tasks a little easier, it has also created a nation far too dependent on its conveniences. Entrenching its way into our lives, people have begun to view these electronics as necessities. Creating a loss of personal freedom and the ability to think for oneself, we witness a society steadily becoming addicted to technology. Infiltrating every aspect of our lives, technology has changed the way in which we communicate, learn, and work. Accessible on ones cell phone, laptop, tablet, or any other portable device, with connection to the Internet, one is able to virtually connect to the world. The role in which technology plays mainly revolve around the way we communicate. For instance, through social networking sites one is able to share and receive thoughts, ideas, pictures, and even update relationship statuses. With all this personal information open to the public, it proposes the question: Is nothing considered private anymore? In addition, why do we care what relationship people are in, or what extravagant vacation they just took? The answer is simple, social media intrigues our

interests and stimulates our drive to know more. People post, tweet, and share their information for the satisfactory that someone out there is fascinated, and likes, what they have to post. This has changed our lives drastically in the sense that nothing is considered private anymore. For example, whom someone is dating was once considered a personal matter, however, today people flamboyantly post about their significant other. Thus depleting our right to solitude and personal business. In addition, technology has changed the way people hire within the workplace. For example, a person was once able to walk into a store or business and speak with whomever was in charge about available positions; however that is no longer the case. Today everything is online. Websites such as LinkedIn or Jobster have created online profiles for people to network their way into new jobs. By understanding the role technology plays in our lives and how it has changed the way in which we live, it is easier to distinguish between the beneficial and adverse effects of technology. Surrounding almost every aspect of our lives today, technology has drastically changed the ways in which people live. However the progress technology continues to make has both positive and negative affects. In many ways technological devices have simplified life; however, they have also brought many complications. The most complicated being our dependency upon these devices. Although much of technology is used for entertainment, nowadays companies are using these virtual worlds for learning and even exercise purposes. For example, the game console, Wii, has created interactive games that allow its customers to meet the required thirty minutes of daily exercise. Also, in todays classrooms children have the luxury to learn on interactive iPads rather than on chalkboards. Today nearly everyone is a proud owner of some form of technology

whether it is a mobile phone, Ipod, laptop, or gaming console, and although this seems harmless, it is many of these technological devices that are causing an addiction. One would think that these tools would help to better understand how to communicate effectively with others, or maintain and strengthen family relationships. However, some technological devices cause people to become distracted, lethargic, and increasingly isolated. In addition technology has created a decline in critical thinking and an increase with an obsession to constantly remain plugged in. Technologys role in society today has created a major impact on our overall sense of living and that is why it is important to recognize its advantages and disadvantages in order to sort the right from the wrong. Staying constantly connected day after day has been proven to wreak havoc among our minds and our bodies. It turns out that spending every aching minute on social media, playing video games, or watching T.V is not helping our mental health. According to Harvard Medical School, scientists have found that using a cell phone or any other electronic before bed can disrupt the bodys production of melatonin and result in sleep deprivation (Gale). An addiction is known as having a compulsive need for a substance that can be potentially harmful. Examples of Internet addiction are: excessive social networking, excessive online shopping, playing online games or gambling, and excessive blogging. In addition, having an addiction to the Internet shows people who have no sense of time, face withdrawal when a computer is inaccessible, and find themselves in social isolation. In 2012 a study was conducted in China to show that too much Internet usage can cause structural damage to the brain. Researches said, Overall, our findings indicate that Internet addiction disorder has abnormal white matter integrity in brain regions involved in emotional generation and processing, executive attention,

decision making and cognitive control. The results also suggest that Internet addiction may share psychological and neural mechanisms with other types of substance addiction and impulse control disorders (Fuchun). These findings suggest that many people could benefit from a break with their technological devices. This is otherwise known as a digital detox. Once one is past the impulse to check their newsfeed every five minutes, or reply to an email as soon as it is received, or even suppress the urge to Google a random thought, they might find that they dont actually miss being constantly connected. One will gain time, privacy, interaction with others, and most importantly no obsessive feeling to constantly be in touch. Tips to help break an Internet addiction include: recognizing any underlying problems that may support this addiction. For example, if one suffers from depression, stress, or anxiety, they might turn to the Internet for relief. Also, it helps to build up coping skills. The article states, Perhaps blowing off steam on the Internet is your way of coping with stress or angry feelings. Or maybe you have trouble relating to others, or are excessively shy with people in real life. Building skills in these areas will help you weather the stresses and strains of daily life without resorting to compulsive Internet use (Saison). In addition, it is important to strengthen ones support network. For instance, the more face-to-face relationships a person has in real life, the less of a desire to create virtual relationships online. Lastly, it is important to replace Internet usage with healthy activities such as going on dates, exercising, or finding a hobby. Although the detox may seem problematic at times, rest assured that the reward of gaining an interactive life back is well worth it. In addition the mind and body will

benefit greatly from allowing it to reboot and restore itself back to the basics, and remembering what life was like before technology consumed it. Overall, it is safe to say that our world revolves around the use of technology. Though it does create conveniences, it is also important to remain aware that it can cause problems as well. The key problem: addiction. However, by monitoring ones usage and strategizing better ways to spend their time, one can live a healthy lifestyle without a dependence upon technology.

Resources: 1. Gale, Jason. "Bedroom-Invading Smartphones Jumble Body's Sleep Rhythms." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. 2. Lin, Fuchun, Yan Zhou, and Yasong Du. "Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study." PLOS ONE:. N.p., 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. 3. Saisan, Joanna, M.S.W, Melinda Smith, M.A, Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. "Internet & Computer Addiction.: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment. Help Guide, Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.