Technology and Teens
How technology affects specific aspects of a teen’s life.
T o say that society has become dependent on technology and devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops is an understatement. On a daily basis, an individual will access their devices multiple times to either accomplish a task such as turning in assignments for a class, or to pass the time in which aimless activity becomes a distraction. While all may benefit from the advances in effective communication, globalization, entertainment, and accurate and speedy processing of information, there are several aspects of technology that can be viewed as “less than beneficial” that come with having constant access. Teens specifically have had major areas of their lives impacted: mental health and relationships, and peer influence being three important ones. In addition, they are subjected to a device dependent world and therefore have been negatively affected in ways that go unobserved at times.
What’s the Problem?
What is the problem with a device that lends itself to so much knowledge, information, and fulfills so many modern needs? The answer to this is “nothing” until it becomes the cause of an unhealthy addiction. This addiction, caused by an over use or overdependence on technology, can be controlled however can have devastating affects should it go unmonitored. Simon Sinek equivalates the elated emotional affects of a cellular device to that of dopamine received after drinking, smoking, or gambling. The same reasoning goes for these activities in saying that they are not bad until they become addictive and unmonitored. Therefore, teens that are left alone, unmonitored with their devices run the risk of becoming addicted to the dopamine released in their systems and therefore could suffer the equivalent consequences of drinking, smoking, and gambling addictions.
Relationships
The idea of relationships whether they be romantic or plutonic apply to all individuals. Teens are not exempt from forming close bonds with people they relate to and enjoy spending time with. How are these devices affecting types of relationships and the way teens interact with each other? In focusing on romantic relationships, the digital world enables teens to meet, date and break up with romantic partners. They play a huge role in how teens flirt and communicate with potential love interests. Social media is a device individuals have adopted in order to flirt or start a conversation as opposed to actually meeting in person. Teens often refer to techniques such as friending on social media, commenting on posted pictures, or sharing mutual interest posts in order to reach out to an individual in hopes of getting a similar response. Phones in some ways have made starting a relationship easier: reaching out is so much simpler and more accessible seeing that the love interest doesn’t even have to be present for flirting to occur. However, with this constant access to each other, certain pressures have become more predominant. Teens have expressed the occurrence of being constantly checked up on by their significant other as well as having their personal text messages or phone information read without permission. A lack of privacy is the result as well as potential hurt feelings. Before technology and social media became a popular avenue, bad breakups were subject to rumors or bad mouthing through actual word of mouth. Now, pictures, messages and private information can be sent without permission to whoever in the name of revenge or payback. Rumors can be more easily spread and reputations are at more risk should a relationship end badly.
From the perspective of friendships and communication with human beings in general, technology has not completely been helpful in furthering people’s connections with each other. While some aspects have increased the ability to communicate between people you may not see personally on a daily basis, the quality of communication is the issue. Through a text, one may not be able to pick up on sarcasm, jokes, or seriousness in the correct context and therefore may unintentionally elicit a message not intended. Numerous times are feelings hurt or friendships put on pause because of a simple misunderstanding of a text not said in person. The tone of voice, facial expressions, and even body language that help someone know the meaning behind words are eliminated in text, snapchat, and even over a phone call. This new type of communication that individuals consider progress in fact takes the personal touch away from talking with someone you care about, or someone you are trying to begin a relationship with. Words being read over a screen at times cannot even begin to convey they heart felt emotion from the sender. In cases such as a loss of something or a death of an individual, a text, snap or even call doesn't do justice and can’t measure up to an in person embrace or physical contact.
Health
While it may seem of little consequence, technology does impact some physical abilities if overused. Conditions such as “text claw,” “cellphone elbow,” “nomophobia,” and “phantom pocket vibrating syndrome” are not uncommon among individuals who are always dependent on their phones. None of these are deemed medical terms, but are used to describe the finger cramping, tingling and numbing of the pinkies or elbow, and eyestrain, blurred vision, dizziness, and dry eyes one receives from using technology at an unmonitored pace. “Nomophobia” speaks into the actual fear of being without a phone, or that quick panic attack you receive when you think you’ve lost your phone. A professor at Indiana University found that 89% of undergraduates experienced phantom vibrations when their phones weren’t actually vibrating and actually were more anxious when they weren't being alerted by their devices. Furthermore, studies have been done that show back pain also can be linked to too much use of devices in which a hunching position is assumed in order to look down at a phone or computer.
In a study experimentation done by Kadir Demirci, Mehmet Akgonul, and Abdullah Akpinar through the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta Turkey, the findings prove that technology does have an impact on both mental and physical health. After administering smartphones to two groups and allowing one to have high use and the other to have minimal use, the results showed that high smartphone use group exhibited higher levels of depression, as well as higher levels of anxiety and daytime dysfunctions compared to the low smartphone use group. Not surprisingly, sleep has a direct positive impact on daytime functions. Should the amount of sleep you receive increase, your ability to perform simple daily tasks also increases. Similarly, the amount of sleep one receives has a strong correlation to symptoms of depression and vice versa. Through this particular study, overuse of technology is shown to impact a person's mental health, quality of sleep, and ability to perform daily tasks in comparison to those who minimally use technology. However as stated before, addiction prohibits monitored and minimal use of a phone and as a result, one if not all areas of health can be tampered with.
Peer Influence
The constant access to phones, each other, and literally the entire world presents opportunities that are viewed as favorable to society. However, no privacy gives way to many instances of peer pressure that make growing up in this generation even more challenging. Teens feel pressured to stay busy by being involved in sports, clubs, and other activities. Highlighting others lives only makes an individual compare them to their own. Competition and a need to portray a certain image only puts more pressure on a teen looking to develop themselves. This may lead to acting in ways that ultimately bring detriment to appearances, images, and reputations. Sexting, body shaming, and cyber bullying are just a few examples of what happens if insecurities enhanced by social media and technology are let go without council.
Conclusion
Teens are subject to many negative consequences as a result of a technology dependent society. While phones and computers are used to further effective communication, globalization, entertainment, they don’t always positively accomplish their purpose. Relationships, Health, and Peer Influence are areas of a teen’s life that are impacted. This is not to say that phones and technology themselves are bad, however unmonitored use that leads to the addiction of devices is harmful.
