Dealing with addictions

When was the last time you checked your phone? Be honest. I've probably picked up my phone a few times while writing this article, purely out of habit. If you wanted to, could you shut off your phone and not use the internet for 24 hours? 72? A week? Oftentimes, the answer is no, and we understand why. Technology is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our school, work, and private lives. In this new, ultra-connected world, many of us feel we have to stay plugged in. A recent report published by Statista unveiled that as of July 2020, about 59 percent of the global population, or 4.57 billion people, are active on the internet. Simultaneously, the Pew Research Center's insights have showcased a consistent upward trend in smartphone ownership across the world. However, when does technology cross the line of being a useful tool to become a problematic addiction? Technology addiction is not always easy to recognize, but it does exist. When people use the term technology addiction, they are generally referring to an excessive interest towards internet platforms, apps, and tools, and the use of social media pages, as well as the excessive use of smartphones or other smart devices. As we use these devices and platforms more and more each year, researchers are finding it increasingly important to examine how technology affects us, both psychologically and physiologically. And, it does affect us, in more ways than you think, impacting our mental health, weight, attention span, and even our real-world relationships. Much of the modern technology that we use holds the promise of connecting us. Indeed, it does do that. However, on the other face of the medallion, science and medicine suggest that an excessive reliance on technology can be alienating and even destructive for some.