While technology holds a huge presence in one’s everyday life, it is important to limit the time spent on electronics. In our continuously advancing world, people are spending more time looking at screens. The overuse of technology creates negative effects on humans. It impacts one’s social skills, creativity, and attention spans, as well as delays one’s language and emotional development. According to the National Library of Medicine, “excessive screen usage can also lead to problems in social-emotional development, including obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. It can impair emotional comprehension, promote aggressive behavior, and hinder social and emotional competence.”
Technology can also inhibit the tasks one accomplishes in a day. Our electronics are incredibly distracting; Kaegan Smith, a student at Pennridge High School, confirms, explaining, “Yes, it distracts me when trying to complete my homework.” Smith estimates that she is on her phone for about five hours each day. Gianna Nulty, another student at Pennridge High School, agrees with Smith, stating, “I try to do homework, and I start to feel a need to go on my phone.” Nulty solves this problem by shutting down her phone and hiding it; this solution works for her as she says, “Once it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.”
Contrastingly, Grace Decker, a student at the University of Alabama majoring in Communications, states, “Some people believe the world of technology results in negative mental and physical effects on society, but it is so much more than that,” she continues, “Technology is a means of communication that brings people together. It promotes diversity and growth and offers viewers the ability to connect with characters on screen.” While Decker brings up a good point, too much screen time does eventually create problems for people.
It is important to understand that in our ever-advancing society, suggesting the complete elimination of technology is unrealistic. Despite this, there are options to limit our screen time. One solution is to set time limits on our phones. This forces us to put down our electronics and find other ways to be productive. Another possible solution is to create tech-free hours. These hours are designed to give people the chance to do activities they wouldn’t normally be able to do because of their electronic addiction. For example, read a book, or do a writing assignment. Ultimately, it is crucial to find a limit to how much time we spend on technology.
Sources:
Muppalla, Sudheer Kumar, et al. “Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management.”
U.S. National Library of Medicine, Cureus, 18 June 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947/.
