Is Technology Addiction Real in the Modern World?
People often say that they cannot imagine life without technology. That is because, in today’s generation, it is hard to disregard the fact that technological advancement has made all things almost impossible to accomplish. Generally, technology is very competitive and unlikely to slow down. Therefore, families can expect technology to develop into something big over the coming years. However, it may also magnify and become an addiction to technology.
Admittedly, technology has been a great part of the industrial and economic growth of the world due to its limitless development. However, following the rapid advancement of technology, youth addiction to technology seems to grow alongside it. Technology addiction, like chemical addictions or impulse control disorder, is not a theory because below are the reasons that can justify society’s technology dependence.
Internet Technology Becoming A Life-Line
People love technology as it provides them with direct access to the internet. Technology has been constantly developing surrounding the work of the internet. It is one of the most astonishing innovations ever created. It promotes better communication, sharing, and connectivity.
The internet holds vast records of information that support abundant learning. It is also one of the biggest avenues for the growth of businesses and industries as it promotes collaboration and access to a global workforce. People, especially young adults, rely on the Internet for almost everything, and once they lose access to it, they begin having trouble doing anything. It is as if the internet holds their lives as it makes them stressed and anxious about the disconnection.
Screen Time With Technology
Technology can secure leisure time. That explains why people are so addicted to social networking sites, playing online games, and technology use, according to mental health professionals. There are tons of things to read from someone else’s news feed and hundreds of vlogs to scroll. It is an excellent source of entertainment as it is the heart of funny quotes, memes, good-quality pictures, and video clips. However, the problem with its too much use is the inability to track time. This is where technology addiction leads to negative consequences like online shopping.
People tend to spend more than 4 hours scrolling on their mobile devices to forget their other existing responsibilities, leading to different types of mental health disorders. The goal is to prevent technology addiction disorder or behavioral addiction to compulsive internet gaming disorder, pathological internet use disorder, or maladaptive internet use. In some unfortunate events, it can even lead to suicide. You don’t need to consult the diagnostic and statistical manual to know that’s true.
Technology Makes Social Skills Poor And Incompetent
Technology often claims that one of its goals is to connect people and promote mental and physical health services against drug addiction, drug abuse, substance abuse, and other mental health problems through technology use. Of course, that is obvious, given that social media and other communication platforms are associable.
However, according to a chief clinical officer, there is a thin line between answering questions or commenting on a post and genuinely having a meaningful conversation. The problem with digital addiction to technology is that people lose their sensitivity and emotional support connections toward others. They believe that once they comment, suggest, or like someone’s social media feeds, they believe it to be an engagement.
But these actions are merely part of online responsibility. Technological addiction does not promote a significant social connection — only underlying mental health conditions.
Internet Addiction Deprives Creativity
According to a family therapy expert, people manage real-life stressors accordingly, especially when they are in a place where they can focus on doing things based on their imagination and creativity.
Unfortunately, just like substance use, addiction to technology somehow takes away their ability to become more creative. Technology addiction limits people’s imagination and leaves them with a pre-existing scenario that makes them just a playing character. Other addictions that involve mobile devices or smartphones can alter brain function. That’s why too much screen media or time online is harmful.
Technology addiction somehow influences the habit of “instant gratification,” which diminishes the required patience for deeper critical thinking. It outweighs the importance of space for growth and development process. Thus, it requires attention and recovery service and programs.
Recording Instead Of Living The Moment
Most people get the idea that it is great to save a copy of the most special events in their lives. The fact that they can record a video and take tons of pictures, people can manage to reminisce with the help of visual representation easily.
However, the problem is that sometimes people are more drawn to saving what is supposed to be celebrated. They focus on keeping a record of the event instead of living that particular moment. There is entirely nothing wrong with recording videos and taking photos, though. But would it be nice to become part of the experience and not end up enjoying only what’s on the clip?
Not Enough Activities Outside
Since technology has almost everything, people find it inconvenient to go outside for educational purposes, down to entertainment. Technological advancement put up a barrier that prevents people from doing usual things outside their comfort zones.
People depend on technology so much that even community and school social interaction is made online. However, technology addiction makes everyone disregard the importance of physical activities. People are dependent on technology that they do not care about exploring more about nature and the environment and disregard their technological responsibility.
Insight
Technology was encouraged for the advantage of mankind, which resulted in various developments in society. However, the physical symptoms of technology addictions and the risk that technology is taking over your life are alarming and must be taken seriously, just like drugs and alcohol.
People may love technology so much that they would never care to look into some of its dangerous impacts. Truthfully, there is nothing wrong with frequently using technology, as it has made life safer, easier, and more enjoyable in several ways. But the trick here is finding the right balance between proper resources like Talk Therapy, Commitment Therapy, support groups, and technology addiction treatment centers for how people should use technology.
With that, parents should take note of the healthy ways and coping strategies, such as dialectical behavioral therapy, that lead to better health and refer or contact a mental health professional. Spending time in Group Therapy and motivational interviewing can help a lot.