In the modern world, when almost everything is automatized, and it is impossible to live fully without devices and gadgets, technological dependence appears to be a pressing concern. It has an impact on people’s brains, causing sleep disorders, anxieties, communication problems, an inability to distinguish the reality and the virtual world, and other difficulties. Overuse of devices and gadgets also influences the behavior of people, making them less positive and relaxed. Flowers Health Institute mentions that nomophobia is a new diagnosis, which is becoming more widespread from year to year. It is “the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact” (para. 10). Despite all the opportunities given by technological development, it may imply significant negative consequences, which affect living conditions.
People have become less open to socializing with people in real life, causing stress while communicating without gadgets. Kitchen marks, “Dating sites quickly rolled out (or beefed up) in-app video features, letting users meet face-to-face or play icebreaker games without springing for an Uber or paying $18 for watery cocktails” (para. 8). Therefore, people encounter problems while becoming acquainted with people in real life.
Dependence on technologies leads to an increasing amount of stress and worries, experience by device and gadget users. Mak et al. explore this issue and claim: “increased technology dependence leads to increased mobile technostress, and increased discontinuance intentions” (para. 1). The scientists also state that obsessive technology usage helps people to feel secure, and, therefore, limited access to gadgets and devices may cause anxiety for them.
It is widely known that teenagers appear to be especially vulnerable to the overuse of technologies, causing significant harm to both their mental and physical health. FCD prevention works (2016) list a range of possible consequences, from sleep disorders to an inability to distinguish the real and virtual worlds. In some cases, the negative impact may be even more significant, leading to depression and serious mental disorders.
Nevertheless, there is a positive impact of technology adherence, which is flexibility and rapid pace of learning. Management Association, Information Resources and Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) (2019) highlight that this modern habit changed the way of perceiving information and reduced the time needed to learn a new skill. People, who actively use technologies, may adapt to new tendencies faster and find the answer to required questions extremely rapidly.
However, the negative influence is significant, especially in the context of children, which results in serious mental disorders both in childhood and adulthood. J. Flowers Health Institute concludes that children may have nomophobia, and among other negative consequences are impulsivity, low self-esteem, inability to conduct adequate self-evaluation, sensation seeking, and others. These factors have a considerable influence on mental health, worsening the living standards of an individual.
In conclusion, it is evident that dependence on technologies leads to numerous negative consequences, which affect the lifestyle of people. In addition, it may cause serious problems in the long run, especially when discussing addiction among children and teenagers. Technology overuse results in multiple mental disorders, from anxiety to depression. It affected the world perception of children and teenagers, which prevent them from adequately analyzing themselves. Moreover, it has a negative impact on the physical state, for instance, by causing sleep disorder. Therefore, regardless of the opportunities, technology dependence may also worsen the living standards of its users.
Works Cited
FCD prevention works. “Technology Addiction.” Hazelden Betty Ford. 2016.
J. Flowers Health Institute. “Technology Dependency – Mental Health and Screens – J. Flowers Health.” J. Flowers Health Institute. 2020. Web.
Kitchen, M. “20 Ways 2020 Changed How We Use Technology Forever.” WSJ [New York]. 2020.
Mak, B., et al. “Mobile Technology Dependence and Mobile Technostress.” International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, vol. 15, no. 04, 2018, pp. 1–17. Crossref. Web.
Management Association, Information Resources and Information Resources Management Association (IRMA). Internet and Technology Addiction: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice. 1st ed., IGI Global, 2019.