* The 2014-2015 senior student signature series features area senior class students – and their own “signature” outlooks on a topic of their choice. A new outlook will be posted on Cross-Counties Connect each Friday. The series opens with point of view comments by seniors from Mountain Lake Public High School. The opinions can be found by clicking on the Family & Faith link on the website’s header, and scrolling down to, and clicking on, Outlook. Their teachers are Brenda Feil, Kim Syverson and Debby Jass.
Technology.. Are We Becoming Addicted?
Phones can be a benefit, but they have become an addiction, a distraction and a danger to human life.
Are “we” able to go without technology for more than 24 hours?
A study done at the University of Maryland found that people could possibly be addicted to technology. After asking a group of college students to give up all technology for 24 hours – including iPods, cell phones and laptops – participants reported feelings of withdrawal and anxiety.
This is exactly what I am talking about. In the future, are “we” going to be able to give up technology for at least one hour?
“Even more damaging than occupying the time of teenagers is the potential effect so much technology might have on how children develop,” says The Seattle Times newspaper. In 2010, researchers were beginning to question if people would become less interested in face-to-face interactions, which are important for social and emotional skills such as reading body language or feeling empathy.
In my opinion, this has happened. I myself have been addicted to my cell phone, but lately realized that is having a negative impact on my life. We only have so much time in a day to spend with loved ones and friends. Are we going to let a phone take that precious time away from us?
Another concern is, are “we” even able to keep the phone down while driving?
Are we humans really attached to phones like that?
It is true that the mental distraction of carrying on a conversation detracts from our ability to read danger signs and concentrate on road safety. The ability to hear traffic signals and warning noises is impaired.
Are we able to focus on school and homework with the distraction of cell phones? it seems that cell phones are now a typical part of doing homework and studying. When sitting down to do homework, what is typically the first thing that comes out? Textbooks, paper and pencil? Or cell phone?
It is like a habit to pull out the phone while in school, at the dining table when eating – or even at work.
Have you ever thought about what this technology is doing to the brain? there is an ongoing concern of many people that cell phones cause brain cancer. This situation has been worsened by a recent ruling by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to put cell phones on a list of items that “may” cause cancer. This was done because the IARC suggested that an increase in gliomas may occur with high use of cell phones.
Currently, many researchers are convinced there is no good evidence for these can-causing claims.
In December 2010, a large study of about 59,000 cell phone users, with use times ranging over 5-to-10 years, indicates that no substantial change in brain cancer incidence could be found in these individuals.
Investigators suggest that “high usage” of cell phones over long time periods is yet to be investigated. With over five billion phones in use and no significant increase in gliomas (the most frequent type of brain cancer) reported worldwide, many investigators think that normal cell phone use likely causes no harm.
For the parents whose children use technology everyday, are you concerned about their growth and development?
Children using mobile phones absorb as much as double the amount of radiation through their heads as adults. Dr. Om Ghandi, a leading scientist and professor of electrical engineering at the University of Utah, found that young children 10 years of age could absorb radiation across their entire brain. He found that more radiation is able to go past the ear into the head, since a child’s ear is thinner and the telephone is closer to the head. “All it takes is two millimeters difference,” Dr. Ghandi said. “I don’t think that children under the age of 15 should get a phone, simply because of the radiation coming out of cell phones.
I do feel cell phones have a negative impact on lives, with the addiction, distraction and danger.
I want to know what you think. Do you feel like they have become an addiction, a distraction and a danger to all of us? Maybe we should all think this one through.