Technology is so deeply ingrained in our lives that it is hard to imagine a life without technological intervention. It has made life easier, enjoyable, more convenient, and safer. Technology touches us in almost every aspect of our lives. So naturally, the question arises – are we too reliant on technology?
With every passing year, technology is advancing faster, making incredible, almost improbable progress in many areas. People increasingly rely on technology to the point where it’s dangerously high. A study by CNN reveals these startling facts:
- 50 percent of teens admit their addiction to smartphones
- 79 percent of them check their phones every hour
- 72 percent of those who check their phones reply to messages
- 35 percent of the respondents admitted to texting and driving
Technology influences our work area, academics, entertainment, and social life. Technology makes us dependent on it for nearly everything we do. Our smartphones and tablets store personal information such as birthdays, card numbers, dates of important events, and other key data that we have to use frequently, such as passwords and user identification codes.
Technology Dependence – The Risks
If we don’t take charge now and allow technology to dictate terms to us in nearly every area of life, it can wreck us physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can also harm those close to us. Let’s look at some of the harmful effects of technology dependency.
Causes Unexplained Anxiety and Depression
Technology dependence is directly linked to anxiety and depression. It makes us lonely as we remain withdrawn from others. The pressure could also be due to
- Pressures from social media
- Increasing instances of cyberbullying
- Inadequate sleep due to incessant browsing
Makes Us Annoyed/Impatient
Technology makes us impatience. Technology allows us to connect to people and places across the globe, anywhere and anytime. This has led us to believe that people should respond to our calls and chats instantly regardless of the time or the situation they might be in. Most people get frustrated when a call is not answered quickly or there is a slight delay in responding to messages on social media or chat platforms.
Adversely Affects Memory
Constant use of internet-enabled devices can affect the functioning of our brains adversely. More importantly, it can impact memory also. Technology has provided humans with memory cards which are fast replacing human memory for information storage. We no longer use our brains to remember phone numbers or other data, such as our bank account numbers or card numbers. You store everything, including passwords and pins, in mobile or computer memory.
Leads to Addiction
Being reliant on technology can be taken to extremes. Technology has increased the addiction to tech-powered devices. It is common to see an uncontrollable urge, especially among the youths, to constantly use their devices to access their favorite programs, apps, and platforms. Technological addiction is more common among teenagers but also rapidly spreading among adults.
Affects Our Natural Skills
Technology can make humans lose their natural skills while completely dependent on devices to guide them in specific matters. It can be argued that technology helps us learn new skills too. You can learn to do things from scratch using online resources such as educational videos or live programs. However, these technical skills will only remain with us for a short time as they are nurtured and developed within us. A simple example is that of the popular water consumption app. Many people use this app to remind them to drink water at specific hours. It makes us lose our natural ability to know how much water we should drink on our own.
There is little doubt that technology has helped us make incredible advancements as a society. However, there is no denying that technology can push us back and hinder our progress if not used judiciously and smartly.
As we become dependent on certain devices and specific types of technology, the more input we provide to improve the working of those devices. When that happens, we simultaneously lose our ability to memorize and find solutions. It hampers our skill-sharpening abilities and also impacts our social lives.
It is, therefore, important to reduce our dependence on technology if we have to sharpen our innovation skills and generate new ideas from scratch.
Conclusion
Technology brings numerous benefits to society. In the modern era, a life devoid of technology is not only unfathomable but impossible. At the same time, it is important that we evaluate the problems associated with technology dependence. One way of mitigating tech dependency is to start regulating the use of devices and find a healthy balance between technology and community. We must learn how to navigate through the various requirements of life by using more of our inherent skills and abilities and being less reliant on technology.
