Technology Addiction in the Society

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Technology Addiction in the Society

Introduction

Technology has been the greatest development in the world since we use to do everything with it. For sure, there is nothing that operates in this world without technology. Though, some people have been torn with the advancement of technology, since people heavily depend on using it non-stop. Technology addiction has become a developing trend, and it is more common among the teen. However, even some adults have fallen to be victims. Technology addiction refers to the state when an individual has the habitual need to use a particular device such as the smartphones, video games or computers. Overdependence of technology may include, watching videos, downloading music, playing games, chatting with friends and playing games. Technology saturates each part of our life; it encompasses us. Phones, TVs, mobile phones, the internet, and beepers, have all played the role in making our lives somehow simpler, fairly more suitable, and a bit more charming. The use of social media together with the gaming has been recognized as the leading cause of addiction among the users of technology. The more people get used to it, the more they want it, more and more. This essay seeks to argue how technology addiction has affected our society; this will be alongside discussing its cause, diagnosis, impact as well as remedy.

The withdrawal symptoms of technology addiction include depression and passionate attachment to a specific game, website, or the use of the internet on the phone or PC more than five hours per day. In the United States, nearly 7.5% of the children of the age 12 and above are thought to be addicted to the internet. It can be difficult to comprehend technology addiction – addiction, being an idea we are more open to getting involved with the utilization (and inebriation) of alcohol or drug addiction. Internet utilization becomes problematical as soon as it starts causing problems for you, many of the internet addicts will account for a negative result from its use. Their urge to become online has led to fading relationships, the reduction in school performance or professionalism and increase in the chances of being affected by other forms of mental health illness (Kandell 97).

Causes of Technology Addiction

The particular causes of technology addiction are yet to be established. However, various scholars have come up with different facts that they claim causes addiction (Shaffer, 114). In this case, it can be said that the technology addiction can be caused by the excessive use of a particular device that is technologically modified, it may include, Video games, smart phones (by using its applications like camera and Whattsapp) and PC (for socializing, example, Facebook and Twitter).

Technology addicts, especially those using the internet will usually feel to be online, they underwent some symptoms of withdrawals at the time when they are offline for some period, and will develop some level of tolerance, demanding ever more period using technology so that they could feel satisfied.  However, many of the technology addicts will excessively utilize most of the time on the internet; the extent in which they spend on the internet is not relevant. Still on the use of the internet, an individual may take most of his/her time being online, but they will not develop any addiction, whereas another one would spend a relatively little, time, but they become the addict. The rate at which the technology is negatively affecting the quality of life is the most significant factor in the analysis of a technology addiction. The way the internet, adversely affects the quality of life is the most important criteria for the diagnosis of an internet addiction (Shaffer, 143).

Methods of detecting technology Addiction

One of the first methods that you can identify that an individual is addicted to technology addiction is by observing the time that they are spending using the internet, either through the PC or their smartphones. According to physicians and pediatricians, if one spends more than 5 hours browsing through the internet, it is considered to be the addiction. Other than using the internet, there are other entertainments that the child would be interested in. If the child spends more time playing games, chatting on the other social sites that are downloaded as app such as What Sapp, then this can be a sign of addiction. Some people would even lie about the time they have spent using the technology (Turel, Serenko, and Giles 97).

It will also be noticed that the victim of technology addiction will lacks interest in doing the activities that he or she used to do before (Shaffer, 146). Lack of interest in activities will extend to another level, whereby they will lack attention to the family, friend, and neighbors since they will consider social media friends to be more important than the rest. Their interest towards the technology will make them be demanding of the latest technology as soon as possible.

Also, you would notice that the child uses the cellphone to access the internet or playing games while eating, using the toilet or walking, even others would wake up constantly at some intervals to check messages or websites.

The noticing decline in the performance of your child at school is another issue, because of your child's interest is more on technology matters than class matters. Noticing some signs of unusual euphoria among the affected victims while using the technological devices can be another way of detecting signs of technology addiction. In the absence of the technology, the victim may experience some stress, anger, restlessness, and depression showing that they were highly addicted to it (Byun et al. 117).

Sometimes, for most addicted children, they will go to an extent of stealing their parents' or guardians' money or credit card from wallet or purse to buy the latest version of games or software released to use it on their phones PC or gaming devices.

Effects of Technology Addiction to the individuals and Society

1. Road Safety

The technology addiction has led to falling of road safety. It is common to find someone checking through their smartphones, either texting, calling or updating some apps while the other hand is on the wheels driving, this according to an article by Reith. This kind of behavior has been caused by addiction whereby one has an increased urge of checking what is going on with the technology around them. This occurrence is very common among many drivers, and it has become one of the leading causes of the accident on our roads. If not for addiction our roads would have been safe for travelers. It is estimated that 28 percent of the road accidents are caused by texting, calling and surfing on cell phones. Despite the strict rules that have been put in place to restrict this kind of behavior, there are still others who continue with it while they shut their car windows (Shaffer, 177).