Technology is shaping our everyday life in so many ways that we cannot even imagine living without our mobiles, the internet, and other gadgets. If you are looking for a short answer, then the answer is yes, the technology can make us dumber. Latest research shows that the results mainly depend on who is using the technology and how it is used. Let’s focus on the core issues of this dilemma in detail.
What Research Tells Us?
The above-mentioned study also shows that high screen time impacts sleep, which results in decreased gray-matter volume, hence increasing age-related cognitive problems, including Alzheimer’s disease. Research tells us that high screen time does impact sleep time and sleep patterns regardless of the age group. Nevertheless, the biggest problem is noticed in babies and young children. In the case of children, research shows that increased screen time can negatively impact brain development, cognitive development, and can cause poor language development and can be a source of distortion in executive functioning. Studies show that overuse of technology results in less reading time, and this results in less brain connectivity between different regions of the brain. Studies also show that the use of social media is also directly impacting how young children interact with peers; thus, social media is also directly resulting in a lack of social connections and quality relationships. So no matter whatever way you use a screen, its use should be under a specific time.
What Do We Mean By Tech Trap?
The use of tech becomes a trap when we start depending on it too much. For instance, using Facebook or Instagram to be in contact with friends and family is good, but using them all the time can affect your everyday conversations and healthy relationships. The use of a calculator is good to find out complex answers, but when you need it to do simple addition like 5 plus 2, then this is a problem. Using the term tech trap does not mean that you should start bashing the technology. What it does mean is that we should not become so dependent on it that we stop doing what we are capable of.
Is Technology Making Us Dumber?
We have discussed so far that technology is indeed making us dumber. However, there are some scientists who believe that there is still no concrete evidence that it is making humans dumber despite the fact that technology has so many downsides. What is also important to note here is that technology has not hit all of us negatively with the same intensity. Those who use technology appropriately are benefitting from it immensely, while there are others who either do not understand or completely disregard its downsides.
The reason why some scientists believe we are gradually becoming dumber is because our brains are not doing the mental exercises that they used to do earlier. On the one hand, we are becoming more and more dependent on technology even for basic things. On the other hand, many of us are becoming addicted to technology and developing mental and physical problems such as withdrawal, lack of sleep, lack of physical exercise, etc.
Is Tech Addiction Linked With Impaired Emotional and Social Intelligence?
Internet addiction can cause serious mental health problems in both children and adults, studies show. The leading problems that are associated with internet addiction include changes in mood, tolerance, withdrawal, distress, etc. Researchers have also found that internet addiction can also complicate the problems related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Young children with high usage of the internet can also develop serious issues when it comes to emotional and social intelligence.
How Tech Has Made Our Life Easier?
Despite so many problems associated with the overuse of technology, it is also helping us in dealing with various issues. For instance, scientists have noted that the use of technology can be very helpful in treating mental disorders, according to a research paper published in the National Library of Medicine. Studies show that small cognitive behavioral therapies for insomnia have helped reduce depression. There are downloadable apps that have engaged people with mental health issues in a positive way, and this results in different positive activities such as relaxation and guided activities.
Do Video Games Improve Your Brain Functioning? Studies Suggest So
A recent study on about 2,000 children from the ages of 9 and 10 years old found out that those children who were playing video games three hours per day did well on cognitive skills tests compared to those who never played. Unlike past studies that were done on less than 100 participants, this study was done on a much larger scale, and it suggests that there can be several positive factors related to playing video games. This study is also different from so many past studies that suggested far more negative effects of video games in children, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics screen time guidelines recommend one to two hours of video game time per day.
Conclusion
Latest research on the human brain shows that the use of technology is harmful, but it is also useful in some particular cases. It is getting clear with each passing year that higher screen time and internet addiction are directly contributing to mental and physical problems such as withdrawal, social isolation, brain development, sleep, etc. The research that we have so far suggests that it is critically important to be aware of the negative effects of technology so that we can not only protect ourselves but also our society.
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