Are We Too Dependent on Technology?

Over the last 50 years, technology has further advanced and is nearly impossible to live without, at least in developed societies. Many argue that we are overly reliant on our phones, computers, and other high-tech gadgets. The world is evolving and technology is a huge part of our lives. For example, GPS technology; Humans rely on this so much that now many don’t even know how to read a map anymore. Sophomore Angelina C. stated, “I believe we wouldn’t be able to survive without technology because of our over-reliance . . . I know I couldn’t.”

In a Penn State study, people were asked to give their opinion of whether they believe society is too reliant on technology. 77% of the people believe society as a whole relies too much on technology (sites.psu.edu). This dependence has also turned into an addiction for many, as nearly every child in America plays video games (abcnews.com). This has many negative consequences for public health, such as lack of physical exercise, which can lead to obesity. 23% of children even think playing video games is exercise (gamerant.com). According to the Daily Mail, “Inactivity is as deadly as smoking. Failing to get fit causes 90,000 deaths a year.” In addition, there has been an increase in strained vision, and neck and back pain in recent years, and hearing loss has become a serious problem. Hearing loss is normal for seniors, but it can also appear in your early 20s. Half of American college students in urban settings risk hearing loss due to cranking up the audio on their phones (everydayhealth.com).

Studies show that the brain responds to technology the same way it does to many other substances, like sugar or heroin (qz.com). HS counselor Ms. Brown stated, “more and more students are addicted to technology, and this affects them because an addiction to anything is bad. We have students who won’t come to school because they want to game or not do school work because they want to game, which can even cause family problems.” Overuse of technology can also lead to stress in the brain, which can lead to memory loss. Continuous stress leads the brain to release cortisol, which can kill neurons in the memory center of the brain (qz.com).

The rise of technology has also led to many negative social effects. The overuse of phones and computers has increased rates of suicide and depression: a study by American psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge found that teens who spend five or more hours per day on their devices are 71% more likely to have one risk factor of suicide (npr.org). Additionally, addiction to technology often leads to isolation and loneliness. According to Dr. Brian Primack, the more time one spends on social media, the more likely that they will feel lonely. One study found that the lack of social connections is as damaging to a person’s health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day (today.com). Teenagers have many opportunities to socialize and connect with others, like clubs and sports. One’s choice to socialize through social media isn’t as satisfying and can lead to loneliness. What’s more, the addiction leads to decreased social skills since people aren’t interacting with each other on a personal level. Communication skills have decreased over the past few years, especially in children (theodysseyonline.com). For some children, they even fear initiating conversations face to face, since they are always messaging and talking on their phones. 

However, the use of technology can have some positive effects, too. It has been suggested the rise of social media has played a part in decreased teen pregnancy rates. The biggest drop in teen pregnancy has been in the last 10 years, a period in which social media has become ubiquitous in teens’ lives (bbc.com). This is still being examined, as many researchers are trying to determine the effects of technology on teen pregnancy. It’s a possibility that the decrease in teen pregnancy is due to a decrease in dating, which could be due to the decline in social skills. Fewer unwanted pregnancies is a good thing, but could this be a positive side effect of an otherwise negative trend? Beyond the social dilemma, though, many teens believe that technology can help them express themselves, get support and learn new things. The internet, for many, is fundamental to achieving success in the future. It increases the opportunity for learning since children have access to so much information. 

Many people argue that being reliant on technology isn’t being overly dependent. We benefit from these advances, so why shouldn’t we use technological innovations? Medically, technology can help treat more sick people, save many lives and combat viruses and diseases (information-age.com). Sophomore Sean P. believes that “society can live and adapt without technology, but why should we? It benefits us greatly so it makes sense to use it.” Many argue that technology was created to help us, so it’s okay that we depend on it—but it doesn’t and shouldn’t mean we can’t live without it. It would be hard and take time to adapt, but for a resourceful young person, unlearning the technological shortcuts we’ve learned should not seem impossible.

There are two sides to every argument, but the over-reliance on technology has many more negatives effects. Ms. Brown commented, “there are always students especially as you grow who are going to be socially awkward, but I see this more and more now because students lack communication skills due to technology.” I agree that technology is crucial, and it’s impossible to live without, but trying to rely on it less might be beneficial. One way to become less dependent on your phone or computer is to not always have it with you. If you physically remove it from your presence, you will stop having the urge to use it all day. Another way to detach from tech is to try to stop using your devices in your free time. Instead, plan to go out and experience the real world.  In addition, turning off your notifications could help decrease your use of technology. This will make you less tempted to keep checking your phone. Furthermore, there’s a national day from March 1 to 2 where people detox from technology. “Unplugging” days are growing in popularity to the point that people will go one day a week without using any technology. Over-reliance on technology is becoming a bigger problem due to the advances in the field, which is negatively impacting us. There are ways to become less dependent on technology; it’s not easy but is necessary for the long term.