The Negative Effects Of Technology

Technology has impacted and influenced how people function and devote their time immensely. With the creation of smartphones, computers, and social networks, people have adopted them into their lives and use them daily, which creates a dependence on these devices. An immoderate dependence upon technology is a state that humanity has come to in today’s age that permits people to believe that they essentially cannot function without it. The fear of not having one’s cellphone or being in a position where one’s cellphone cannot be used, whether it be because of a dead battery or having no signal, is known as nomophobia. This irrational phobia can be described as a cell phone separation anxiety. Even though technology is revolutionary, technology is addictive and has adverse effects on people’s lives when used excessively.

The effects of technology usage have long been a topic of debate, with the negative consequences often being brought up. Authors such as Robert Samuels, Alison Gopnik, Nicholas Carr, Gary Small and Vorgan Gigi have all addressed this topic in their own articles. In Samuels’ “Breaking Down Borders: How Technology Transforms the Private and Public Realms,” he discusses the creation of private bubbles in public spaces due to technology, and the consequent alienation of others. “Diagnosing the Digital Revolution” by Gopnik argues that the habits that tech users have today have always existed, while Carr’s “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” states that technology is actively changing the way humans think. “Meet Your iBrain” by Gigi and Small covers how technology affects brains and alters them. This paper will use the articles and an interview with a peer to analyze the perceived negative effects of using technology, particularly worse memory, shorter attention span, exacerbation of bad habits, and shifting emotions.

Is the use of modern day technology harmful to one’s health? Mental and physical health is worsening because of modern day technology. Studies show that constant exposure to screens changes the neural circuitry of developing brains, leading to shorter attention spans, stunted social skills and a heightened ability to multitask (Gibson). Physical effects of technology can be blemishes caused by your phone. Staring at your phone all day can wreck your spine, WiFi exposure can lower men’s sperm count, and too much screen time could strain

As people are out and about in society, it is hard for them to be social with one another. People are avoiding uncomfortable situations by using their phone as a distraction. Often times people in society do not even notice the people or things that are happening around them. “The more advanced technology becomes, the more it seems to have control over our lives” (Nables, 2012). How often is it that you can just walk into a restaurant and not see someone on their phone? People are constantly checking their phone to see if they have received a new message, email, or app notification :

Technology has taken over the lives of humans by rendering the way people think, say and do things. From role models and identities to communication and safety, nothing is what it used to be two decades ago and humans have technology to thank for that. The articles in unit three of Writing on the River, display and explain the negative impacts technology has on society. If technology had limitations, perhaps humans would reconvert back to reality after their long-spent time in the world of technology. Some people claim technology has only benefited the world, but these articles have the evidence to prove the cons outweigh the pros.

Today, about 9 in 10 Americans use the Internet and 77% of Americans own a smartphone. Compare these statistics to the early 2000s when 5 in 10 Americans were online and in 2011, when only 35% of Americans owned a smartphone. Just a few decades ago, the technology we have today were merely ideas in science fiction novels or gadgets seen in a futuristic movie. There is no doubt that technology use has increased dramatically within this decade and these numbers may continue to rise as technology becomes more available to the public. Technology is slowly taking over our life and so many people have grown up surrounded by technology that a life without it is pretty much unimaginable. As technology becomes a bigger part of our daily lives, we

Technological advancements have made strides in cultural adaptation to successfully fabricate easements in life’s elaborate, intricate processes in the twenty-first Century. Business prospers with the use of e-mails to send notes within seconds of writing the thought rather than people having to engage in an hour-long conference, while the use of Skype has vastly increased how we interact with people from all over the world. The News was once posted once a day through tabloids or television, whereas today, the information would be missed and not updated with up-to-the-minute posts. Present-day children will be interacting with their friends in-real time and do not have to take time out of their schedule to form plans ahead of time. Consequently, people have abused how the internet was intended to be which has led to some undeniable, severe consequences. Technology, therefore, has negatively impacted how society’s simplistic, indispensable interactions through substitution of the human-connection experience, which affects people’s attention span shorter than it used to be, and providing a need for people to receive shallow and instant gratification about how people view the world.

With all of the technological advances that have been made over the last decade, it is amazing that a person ever leaves their home. While technology allegedly makes our lives better, in reality, technology only makes our lives more difficult. In doing so it changes the way things used to be done, it causes a huge lack of communication and lastly, technology is great, until it breaks.

As we go into the future we see that computers are not going anywhere and are becoming more and more prevalent throughout our society. The big question is whether or not this is helping or hurting us. Man dates back over twenty thousand years ago, and we are always advancing. During the early years when we were first starting to forming colonies on new land we notice that guns helped to give us and edge. New technology is what helped found this country. Nowadays we look at cell phones and internet and how we are able to communicate with people all the way on the other side of the world with ease. Without technology like cellphones, laptops, and tablets we would not be able to communicate so fast and easily. Others argue that this is why our society is corrupt and that cellphones, computers, and new technology is the root of this evil. They believe that machines are what cause people to become fat, and that games are making children angry. These are also the same people that say the internet is making it easier for children to access things that they shouldn’t see.

Social media interaction now dominates online and offline conversations, today interacting and sharing online is no longer seen as a taboo but as a normal thing to do. The number of time people spend on social networks is constantly increasing “ the average person will spend nearly two hours on social media everyday”. The internet can provide a degree of social interactions, online networks and connection but it cannot replace the benefits of in person contact. Social media allows people to

Technology is a vital part of today’s society. People use everyday talking to friends, communicating for others, and more. Technology is mostly a negative influence on people’s identities because it grants power without responsibilities, promotes narcissism, and can be dangerous to others (misuse).

Modern Technology has had a great deal of influence on how we process information in the twenty-first Century. Business flourishes with the use of e-mails to send for conferences or important information in seconds, while the use of Skype has vastly increased how they interact in conferences from all over the world. News was once posted once a day only through the papers and television, if the information was not seen then it was not known to have happen whereas today, anytime of the day, current or former information can be accessed. Children today will be interacting with their friends in seconds and do not have to make plans ahead of time. However, people have abused how the Internet was intended to be which has led to some undeniable, severe consequences. Technology has negatively impacted how humans communicate through replacing the human connection, making peoples attention span shorter than it used to be, and providing a need for people to receive shallow and instant gratification about how people view a topic.

Less than ten years ago it would have been a rarity to own a smartphone. Technology has advanced immensely over the years and completely changed the way we live today. Most people would argue that technology is beneficial and it helps make their lives much easier. Although these statements may be true, I could easily argue the contrary. Sometimes I think life would be simpler without it. Almost everything comes with its pros and cons, but this paper will soon persuade you that one outweighs the other. Technologies of all sorts have started to take over our lives; for some, such as the “Digital Natives,” technology is all we have ever known. I am dumbfounded when I see a seven year old with their own iPad; the dependency of technology is

Technology moves the world; it advances society. It lessens the workload of people and companies, and shapes the world into a more technologically dependent one. Is society becoming overly reliant upon the innovation that it has created? Humankind should be benefitted wholeheartedly through it, but what of those who are negatively affected by the tidal wave of technological advancement? Such innovation should not be swamped by government regulations, nor should the creativity bolstered through said innovation; if anything, more work and attention should be pressed towards the technological industry to a certain extent, to improve upon improvisations and work out the kinks and negative effects it may have.

“With great power, comes great responsibility” as famously said by Uncle Ben from Spiderman- Nowadays, people have smart phones and personal devices that allow for us to escape from reality, while also giving us powerful functionality tools like alarms, calendars, calculators, and access to Google. We, as a modern tech savvy society, must be aware and wise when using technology and the Internet since the dangers are everywhere. As a result, society has become overly dependant with using technology within their daily lives, so much that it can negatively affect children/people, it is dangerous, and creates an unnecessary obsession among the users.