Technology is a term that is used quite a bit, unlike a few years ago. Its use has increased quite quickly and intensely, as today people use it for hours and hours at a time.

The technological revolution, especially with the Internet and social networks, has been one of the great changes in the last century. Thanks to it, important achievements have been achieved in many fields such as medicine, communications, and commerce. But, as with everything, it has its negative side, because today the use of technology has reached its most extreme state. And the phrase “too much of anything is bad” also applies to the Internet and especially to the new social networks, since the physical and mental damage it has on people is being observed.

The use of technology in education and social relations

Reaching this worrying point has been due to several factors that have contributed to finding ourselves in a critical situation, especially in the younger population. A main factor was the introduction of technology in educational contexts as a support, becoming a fundamental tool in teaching to the point that now in schools books are not used but electronic devices. Another factor, unexpected and which accelerated this entire digitalization process, was Covid-19. Social isolation took its toll on everyone. In the end, human beings are social, and the fact of not being able to have this interaction for months led to desperation and turning to electronic media more intensely. Social networks proved to be a refuge for entertainment and connection with others but in a radical way.

The problem? Due to the increased use of technology as a form of interaction, people have become more vulnerable to mental problems such as stress, depression, or anxiety. There is a relationship between excessive use of the Internet and psychopathological consequences. Many studies, carried out with the university population, have shown that excessive Internet use generates social changes in young people, making them more lonely and more impulsive, it also worsens the relationship with the family, as well as generates greater irritability. In addition, it has been seen that they have more problems when it comes to falling asleep, leading to sleep disorders. Another aspect that was seen is the increase in stress when it comes to not having the mobile phone accessible, since young people have become so accustomed to being constantly with this device, that not having it generates mental discomfort such as anxiety or stress.

Responsible use of technology

It is normal to blame technology and everything related to it. Many families choose to take away their young people's cell phones or try to stop them from using social networks. But the cell phone itself is not the problem, but rather how I use technology. If technology is used to communicate and connect with others, or even to learn, it turns out to be something positive, but when it becomes routine, where one becomes passive in the face of what happens, it can have negative consequences such as depression. Some important aspects to make good use of it are:

  • Set usage limits: It is quite normal to be constantly using it, during the day and night, therefore, setting schedules to stop being “glued” to the screen is a good start.
  • Balance between life off-screen and on-screen: it is necessary to balance how much time one spends talking on social media and encouraging physical, face-to-face contact with other people, or carrying out activities in which the use of a mobile phone is not necessary.
  • Keep electronic devices away at night: Nowadays, many people, especially young people, spend hours on their cell phones before going to sleep. They end up falling asleep with this device in their hand. Therefore, to avoid this, it is best to leave the cell phone in a place far from the bed. This way, you can get a better quality of sleep.

All of the above are small steps that can help improve the relationship with technology healthily and avoid possible mental health problems. It is well known that technology is the basis of our world today, but that is no excuse for abuse of technology because it can be dangerous. The best thing to do is to find balance and, in situations that are already harmful to health, go to a psychologist to keep these dangers at bay.