Kalyna De Angelo
Aug 31, 2018 · 5 min read

The Dark Side of Innovative Technology

The iGen generation is definitely a real generation in the eyes of modern society today. Our phones revolve around our entire world, as does social media. There are many benefits to this new era, but as many benefits that appear there are also some consequential downfalls. One huge factor that smartphones have contributed to is mental health. The Atlantic article acknowledges this form of behavior by stating, “The arrival of the smartphone has radically changed every aspect of teenagers’ lives, from the nature of their social interactions to their mental health”(Twenge). The article thoroughly explains how we are way more vulnerable in this sense than millennials once were.

One of the most relatable points I came across while reading this article was the dating terms we now use. The new term for before dating is “talking” and then you start to date. This whole system is much more different then let’s say our parents generation. They don’t understand this form of “talking”, but this is a natural everyday life experience for us young adults.

I found it interesting how part of our maturity levels are behind those of our older generations. The article asks the question, “Why are today’s teens waiting longer to take on both the responsibilities and the pleasures of adulthood?(Twenge)” This questions brings a broader discussion of how the phone plays a huge part in our evolving maturity levels. Less in person social interaction is taking place, and more teens are focusing on hanging out with their friends through their phone on social media accounts. The study found out how teens who spend more time on their electronic devices are more prone to being unhappy. We see images on Instagram that makes us hate our bodies and we also post images on Snapchat and Instagram that trigger others to bully us and send hateful messages. Cyberbullying is a very recent problem in our society and it all revolves around this generations need to be attached to their mobile devices and smartphones.

If teens are increasingly becoming more and more depressed while using their cellphones, why do they continue to use it? This seems like a simple and straightforward answer, but having been in this generation and experienced the rise of technological devices, it is not all that simple. It is almost a ‘lose lose’ situation in my opinion. If you are not on social media then you feel left out or as if you are missing out on something (the famous abbreviation “FOMO” meaning fear of missing out). No one wants to feel left out, so many people would rather be on social media, know what is going on and be unhappy, rather than be out of the loop completely and miss out on what everyone else is doing. The article also points out that this is extremely evident among girls. I will agree with that opinion as I personally have felt this has been more of a problem with girls during that age. That is not saying that boys do not go through this growth process as well, but girls definitely experience this in a different and sometimes more psychologically extreme form.

Not only is the fears of mental illness apparent in our society with the usage of smartphones, but as The Atlantic proposed, there have been multiple studies published regarding the dangers of sleeping with your phone. There has been scientific evidence to prove this, yet so many people disregard this claim and consistently sleep with their phone right next to their head. People are on their phones checking social media before bed and right when they wake up in the morning. I found it very interesting how the article even quoted people explaining how they found comfort having their phone close to them while they slept. The decline in sleep has skyrocketed due to people being on their phone before bed. There have been studies shown that using a cellphone before bed is extremely detrimental to one’s sleep routine. Now not only is mental health an issue with smartphones, but sleep deprivation is a major health concern. Weight gain, myriad issues, high blood pressure, and many more all play a part in the simple act of one just using their cell phone before sleeping.

The documentary, Future Shock shares a lot of the similarities that are in Lo and Behold. This informative documentary opens up with the interesting way that the Internet was born. Both Herzeg and Wells had these thoughts about the digital culture and what life lessons would arise from it. There is this new era evolving and we are all trying to navigate this new world that revolves around technology. Lo and Behold gives a specific example to the The Atlantic articles argument towards smartphone and social media usage leading to cyber harassment and bullying. Just a small Iphone did so much damage and heartache to one family because of inappropriate and graphic images of their daughter being sent out to the family. How could so much damage arise from just one microscopic camera on a cellphone?

Lo and Behold introduces the idea of robots beating the fifa world champions. This is a very strange concept to comprehend, but it is the reality of our ever evolving world. Technological devices have increasingly taken the place of humans, which unfortunately in the future may replace many individuals careers. As I have already stated, yes there are major benefits to these new technological advances, but the downfalls such as, mental health, diseases, and loss of job/careers, may one day out way these advantages.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade