Overtime technology has drastically improved to where society is becoming too dependent on it and needs to find a balance. People are using technology and missing out on the bigger things in life. Students are loosing their personal social skills because they're so used to talking and hiding behind a screen. People can false advertise themselves because they can say and post whatever they want on social media without anyone knowing what really went on. Technology is an omnipresent distraction. It is everywhere, in our classes everyday, in hospitals, library, offices, homes, and don't forget right in our hands. Even in movies such as "The Hunger Games (2008) are among the most well-known  ctional examples of how technology might be used to control human behavior and thoughts and create ostensibly perfect societies" (Surry 15). Overusing technology can cause a variety of health issues like obesity, depression, and poor habits which is why a balance is so important for society to have.

In our day and age technology is used a lot for social media, as well as communication. There are apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and the list goes on of all different social medias people use everyday. Photos are liked, statuses are commented, tweets are favorited, and it goes on. This first iPhone came out only less than 9 years ago. If you think about it, right before then everyone had brick phones or flip phones which seem ancient to our generation. Society depends on technology for work, communication, helping individuals, and just about everything to progress. "Technology, for its part, is dependent on humans for its continued development, maintenance, expansion and re nement" (Surry 16).  People are so reliant and needy about their phones 68% of phone users can't eat without it on them (Analogous).  They are constantly needing to know they have connection right away. People admit to each other all the time that they think they are on their phones too much but they don't ever do anything about it. People have said technology is "more distracting" and makes them feel "more robotic" (Analogous). We rely on our 'external brains', which are our cell phones, computers, and technology (Case).

Social interactions occur everyday all the time. Communication is one of the most important keys in life to interact and understand each other. A survey was taken to about 4,000 thirty year old women and were asked what the most common ways they communicate to their family, partners, and friends (Analogous). The top four ways they communicate are in person face to face, on the phone, email, or text messaging. Three out of the four ways they communicate are all with the use of technology. This can definitely be helpful when trying to reach someone, but if an individual is only communicated through text messaging and emails then they are eventually going to loose their social face to face skills (Neeraj). The more time communicating online the less time communicating in person or on the phone (Kazmeyer). People are spending less time with their families and friends because they'd rather be looking at their phones or watching television. Communicating on social media may give off a false sense of communication because you can't determine someone's feelings by looking at words (Jung). There is an absence of body language (Neeraj). Behind a screen it allows people to behave in ways they wouldn't behave in person (Kazmeyer). This can turn into cyber bullying because of the hidden identity behind a faceless screen. Sadly, 43% of people have said they've been online bullied before (Kazmeyer). With technology and smart phones so available people have the need to communicate as much as they can since it is right at their fingertips. Teenagers now days tend to text and drive or use their smart phone while driving. This distracts them driving and creates many destructive car accidents and kills innocent people. Statistics say that "11 teens die everyday as a result of texting while driving"(Snyder). Technology lovers say that social media helps with relationships with communication but a survey was done and 56% of people don't believe that social media has helped their relationships(Analogus). Technology is great to help us communicate but it can counteract and allow individuals to loose important characteristics as well as harm individuals. 

On average 92% of American's have a technology device and 90% of them have some sort of social media account (Perrin). Social media is said to be used for communicating and seeing what all of your friends and family are up to. People go on it to see what activities other people are doing that they're missing. It's also used to share what you're up to and post your own pictures for everyone to see. It allows us to have self-expression and figure out the social norms (Goff). Although this is true, many studies have been done that focus on people's personal characteristics (Williams, Robert and Ricciardelli). After looking and observing 158 people who are internet users (in 2013), Pshuk and Koriava noticed that the internet-addicted students have a very high level of anxiety. They feel the need to communicate and check their phones to see if they missed anything.  The stress themselves out with worrying what they missed while they weren't plugged in or connected. With technology we created a 'second self', our digital self, such as Facebook and any of our accounts online (Case). The internet-addicted students also have low self-esteem and low self-understanding (Pshuk and Koriava). This formed from the individuals looking at what their friends are doing putting an image of what fun looks like. Also, if a friend posts a selfie and receives a ton of likes or comments, it makes the viewer have a new image of what beauty is and compares themselves to it. They might not think they are as pretty or cool as they are because they don't get as many likes, as well as not having as many friends (Kazmeyer). It creates a whole new image in their head of what the 'social norm' is. If they aren't there doing the fun activity with them or taking a cool picture the individuals tend to feel low about themselves compared to their other friends who seem to be having fun. These students have a lack of confidence and self-incriminate themselves because they don't feel good enough (Pshuk and Koriava). It goes along with having a large number of friends or followers when realistically, they all really aren't your "friends"(Kazmeyer). It can make people feel lonely and even depressed. It is very common for girls compare themselves to others. They see their friends or famous people getting attention that they want which makes them conceptualize their body image making them want to change something. (Williams, Robert and Ricciardelli). Some girls even create an eating disorder because they feel they aren't skinny enough to be accepted by society (Williams, Robert and Ricciardelli). All of this ties in with the idea that if society had a healthy balance of time, about two hours a day, between their use of technology and non-use many of these personal characteristics can be prevented. 

Every generation has grown up differently based on the technology. When my parents were born, computers and cell phones didn't exist. When I was born the computers used were giant slow computers and brick cell phones. The kids born today are growing up with the lightest and thinnest computers as well as smart phones that can load faster than ever. The way we grow up basically creates the way we live. Twenty years ago to look information up people would go to the library to look in encyclopedias, or if they had to find a place they would use yellow pages. Now, with a click of a few buttons or even a conversation with Siri our questions are answered in seconds. Kids as young as two years old are known to use some sort of technology. "Psychology Today says that the used of technology can alter the actual wiring of the brain" ( DeLoatch). Over-stimulation happens to children when they constantly need a high stimulation or they become bored, which is called attentional desensation (Kardaras). People tend to not be as creative or imaginative because answers are given to them without having to think deeply or in detail. (DeLoatch). Children can be good at finding information by using search engines, but might not be able to remember it. UCLA researchers studied two groups of sixth graders(DeLoatch).One group went five days without any electronics and the other was the control and didn't change their usage. After the five days they were shown fifty faces and were asked to identify the feelings. The group of kids that didn't have electronics score much higher on reading the facial emotions and nonverbal cues. Because they didn't have electronics with them they were more social and interactive with other people. Electronics can effect the way children empathize (DeLoatch).  It seems to be inevitable for children to grow up without using electronics which is why a balance is needed. According to FOX news, "one hour of screen time that infants between the ages of 2 and 6 are exposed to, the rates of ADHD go up by 10%. Thus 3 hours of screen time equals a 30% greater chance of the child developing an ADHD diagnosis"(Karadaras). ADHD is a serious condition and can be avoided if we just balance out our time using technology and electronics. An hour or two a day is plenty enough to play computer/video games without rewiring the brain. Children need to spend less time on technology so they don't loose their interaction and communication skills. 

Technology can effect our mood too believe it or not. A study was done on college students to play an interactive video game for 30 minutes and then were observed to see if they had short-term or long-term effects as well as a good or bad mood (Russell, William D., and Newton). If the students were doing well in their games, they had a positive mood and a negative mood if they were doing poorly (Russell, William D., and Newton). Depending on how serious they were about the game their mood lasted awhile. Another example of technology effecting our moods is the amount of usage time verses a person's well being (DeLoatch). A group of children used technology for one hour and another group used technology for four or more hours. The children that were limited to only an hour of technology usage had an overall better well being (DeLoatch). They had a better wellbeing because they weren't wanting more of it. They are used to only getting an hour a day while the other group is used to having the constant electronic stimuli. Also, the kids on technology for longer periods are more susceptible to being bullied because they have a greater risk of being targeted (DeLoatch). Also, the kids who are using technology for four or more hours have a danger of obesity. Researchers have tied in that some cases of obesity come from high technology users because instead of moving round all day they sit still using their computers, phones, watching television or playing video games (DeLoatch). 

Some individuals are so addicted and dependent on their technology and video games and the idea of death is involved. In 2004 a thirteen year old boy committed suicide and "left a note saying he went to "join the heroes of the game her worshiped" after playing World of Warcraft for 36 hours straight" (Kardaras). Another incident was a "17-year-old murdered his mother and seriously injured his father when they refused to let him play Halo 3"(Kardaras). These are cases of extreme internet influences behavior. A balance of using technology is necessary for everyone. Even for just an hour a day will benefit children, teenagers, and adults abundantly. 

No one tends to think about it but many health problems come from using technology too much. Obesity, depression, poor sleep habits, tendonitis, neck and head pains, and loss of hearing and eyesight can all come from the over usage of technology(Holmes). Dr. Simone Kuhn from the University of Ghent in Belgium brain scans of "frequent gamers" (individual that spend at least 9 hours of video games per week) by using fMRI and "found that they had a greater volume of gray matter on the left side of the ventral striatum" (Karadaras). Severe obesity is increasing drastically in young people. Pediatricians are saying technology may be a major cause of this (DeLoatch). The more hours spent playing computer and video games, the less time those individuals have to exercise and be active. Companies like Wii and Xbox are even aware of this because they have released games that involve physical activity like Wii fit and Xbox Kinect. Depression evolves from the lack of human contact, lack of exercise, as well as seeing what all your friends are doing on social media. Some people who are diagnosed with depression are told to not be on electronics as much(Hosale). Poor sleep is also a habit many people face because of technology. People are busy with their online actives, such as stalking friends, playing games or just talking to other people. Also, the glow of light from computer and phone screens effect the release of melatonin which helps us sleep(Holmes). Looking down at our phones or computer screens can cause neck and head pains and can even cause our neck to loose its natural curve. When I sit on my laptop for a long period of time studying and doing school work I personally get neck pains. People even get headaches, migraines and blurred vision from eyestrain. My grandma used to always tell my I texted/typed way too fast and I was going to get carpal tunnel. I thought she was crazy but there are actually many cases of young adults being diagnosed with carpal tunnel or tendonitis from typing too much, or playing video games for too long(Holmes). People can loose their hearing or even their eyesight all thanks to overusing technology. Listening to music or shows too loud can damage our ear drums. Individuals that stare at screens for too long tend to need glasses earlier in life than people who aren't over using their technology (Holmes).

Balance is what we need. People are too dependent and addicted and it is unhealthy. Although technology is great and helps improve our lives so much, we can't over use it. It such a serious matter that there are even health specialist for people with internet addiction. There are even rehabs that can help the technological dependent and addicted people (Karadaras). We need about seven hours of sleep a night and technology can take away from this. A few simple things to help use technology less could be like reading a hard copy of a book instead of on a computer screen. Whenever you eat, put your phone away and don't watch television. Instead interact with the others around you. Families should create their own rules that work for their families. For example, certain places electronics are allowed and have specific hours when you can't use any electronics. Balance is important and key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in our technologically filled generation.

