Technology Rules Everything Around Me

Our generation has been surrounded and exposed to a digital world consisting of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and many other advanced devices. Technology is taking over our lives and changing our societal norms. It is convenient and entertaining at most times but there is no way that you can experience the best things in life by looking at a screen. My friends, family, and even myself have abused its usage on a daily basis. At one point or another, everyone has done it.We seriously need to limit our exposure to technology.

A recent study shows that children as young as 8 to 10 years old spend nearly 8 hours a day using smartphones and older children and teens spend more than 11 hours per day. I have two younger siblings who are hooked on their games which irritates me because they sit down all day with their faces attached to the screen. I try to limit their use of technology by suggesting other activities such as a trip to the park and playing outdoors. Most times they agree to come along but other times they prefer to stay home and occupy themselves with their games. Children have become very entertained by their devices that they prefer to use it rather than being active. Staying home all day being unproductive is both boring and unhealthy.

This raises health issues because diagnoses of ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, developmental delays, unintelligible speech, coordination disorder, and sensory processing are associated with the overuse and increasing rate of smartphones. Children are mostly vulnerable to these issues because they may not know how to properly use those devices due to the freedom that their parents give them. They need to be monitored and taught that excessive use of technology is harmful and they can suffer from any of those health issues. Parents also need to stop buying these gadgets for their children if they will not enforce rules on the appropriate times that they should be used.

Source: Banksy

Excessive smartphone usage makes us distance ourselves from the real world. Nothing is more annoying than when you are out with a friend or even a group of friends and all their attention goes to their phone. I would rather go out by myself than have a friend choose their phone over me. I just don't understand the need to be on it all the time. The way I see it, it also indicates that their phone is so much more important or interesting than spending time with me. It is also disrespectful, especially if you are out on a date. Usually when I go out, I see couples on a date but there is a lack of communication and interaction with one another. Instead, both are occupied with their smartphones that they forget how to converse.

Technology has contributed many great things for the world but excessive use of it can be very harmful. It is important for people to come together to help society realize technology’s destructive effects on children and teens’ physical, psychological, and behavioral health but also on their ability to sustain personal and family relationships. The world may possibly be a better place if everyone can just take a moment, everyday, and take the initiative to put our phones or other devices down. We can rest our eyes, go outside, appreciate nature, or strike a conversation with someone instead. The possibilities are endless! Also, these can all be done without having to use our devices! We cannot let technology keep taking over our lives so we all need to change our habits and restrain from using our devices every single time and day.