

Present day society is flooded by digital technology, whether it is texting on a phone or using social media sites. Even accomplishing homework, applying for a job, or to college all require technology. In this paper, I will be focusing on the digital technology that includes social media websites and apps as well as text messaging. They have become a vital part of our society, even consuming people's daily activities. Everyone is affected by technology one way or another. For the younger generation, the need to keep up with social media and constant communication with others has decreased social interaction in person. Instead of face to face meetings or phone calls, people will now text. For the older generations, technology has still impacted them, just in a different way. Parents are disconnected with their children and teachers separated from their students. The topic of technology can be viewed in many different ways and the core reason for technology is for growth. It is the reason behind many economic accomplishments as well as scientific. But the way in which we use technology is beginning to hurt more than help. It can diminish human interaction due to the way humans use it. Technology becomes a distraction to a majority of people, myself included. I find myself constantly updating Instagram or Facebook and spending five to ten minutes every thirty minutes to catch up on other people's lives. This is usually instead of doing something productive such as homework or sleeping.  In this research paper, the main topic will be the effects technology have on humans' brain. Overall, does technology do more harm than good? This can be a very controversial topic because many arguments can be made both for and against this. Some people believe that technology hurts humans by taking away social skills and concentration, while others believe that technology is vital in human growth and does more good. Technology allows for new discoveries but overall people disagree whether it has more positives than negatives. This paper will explore all arguments while primarily focusing on the negative impacts technology have on one's brain. All of my sources play a vital part in my research paper. Some agree with my argument that the use of technology has more negative impacts on human's social skills and learning abilities than beneficial impacts, such as the articles by Campbell and Pang. But some of the sources I chose took the opposition arguments. Some sources, such as the articles by Esmail, Simmons and Valkenburg, have evidence of the extreme positive impacts from technology. Technology allows for new medicine to be created and information to be shared world wide quickly. This controversy is very important in today's society due to the increasing usage of technology daily. Mostly everyone encounters technology on a daily basis, with some hundreds of times a day. Whether it's a computer for work, cellphone or home phone for calls, life nowadays is surrounded by technology. Being a college student, the use of technology is required for jobs, social life and school work. I am consistently surrounded by it, especially social media apps. Technology has become such an irreplaceable asset, resulting in many people not knowing how to live without it. Becoming addictive to technology has taken away key skills, such as eye contact and other social skills. After doing my research, I believe if humans continue using digital technology at this rate, with every generation getting it at a younger age than the previous, this will result in humans becoming robotic, unable to function without technology and humanity becoming less significant.  

Digital technology results in a loss of social skills, cognitive skills and can affect one's emotional being. Spending hours on hours on one's IPhone or computer has greatly impacted the ways humans communicate and interact with each other. In group settings, friends no longer listen to each other due to the distraction of text messages or emails. Instead, "conversation flows and trails off as you each look at your phone, nearly finish a thought as you start typing" (Pang 362). People tend to focus more on their technology rather than on other humans in the room. They feel the constant need to check their phones for a text message. Every time a person checks their phone or computer, the conversation stops. And usually it is not picked up again. Or if a person says they are listening, they are truly hearing what a person is saying. The effects from constant use of technology can be longer term as well and scientists believe "juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave" (Richtel 481). Not only does digital technology affect people's day to day lives but it will change their nature. They become less human. People begin to think and react like robots would, taking emotion out of text messages. Paying attention to people rather than technology has become less and less important and will only continue to lessen in value with time and with more use. Instead of becoming consume with technology, people must change the amount they use it. Human contact is much better than anything digital technology can offer. 

With long exposure to digital technology, humans are weakening their cognitive skills along with their social skills. Most people believe that multitasking is a successful result from technology use. But instead, "heavy multitaskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information, scientists say, and they experience more stress" (Richtel 482). Without the skills to block out useless information, people remember less important material, which results in multitasking not been useful. People think that they can do more than one thing at a time but this just decreases their productivity. They are giving half of the amount attention, learning half as much as well. Now since digital technology is being introduced at younger and younger ages with each new generation, "researchers worry that constant digital stimulation like this creates attention problems for children with brains that are still developing, who already struggle to set priorities and resist impulses" (Richtel 487). With introducing technology at such young ages, children brains are still being developed therefore, the brain will develop differently in order to keep up with the technology. This lack of brain development results in problems paying attention as well as other cognitive issues. Another negative result of digital technology is the downfall of students' writing. Due to always using technology, "Students are more likely to commit certain grammatical errors because they use the conventions of texting, tweeting and Facebooking in their formal academic essays" (Campbell). Being around technology all day, everyday, students become so used to using texting shortcuts which results in them using informal language in their school work, resulting in lower academic progress of the student.  Too much digital technology can affect many pieces of a human, but the negative effects of one's cognitive skills can be detrimental, impacting a person for the rest of his/her life. 

Just like most things in life, too much of technology can lead to addiction. Spending too much time on social media and other applications on digital technology can lead to the need to always continue. Digital technology can be addictive and "researchers have noted that the consequences of technology addiction are similar to the consequences of chemical addictions such as drugs or alcohol and can include financial problems, job loss, and relationship breakdowns" (Rosen). Using it too much can lead to many more serious issues instead of just consuming one's time. Unlike drugs, addiction to technology is not only contributed to people with specific characteristics and certain personalities. Instead the "technology itself lures us into using it, sometimes for extreme lengths of time. Even when people are not online, they might often be thinking about being online" (Rosen). Most people may not think of it as an addiction because everyone uses digital technology everyday and there are not direct harmful effects. However, it can be just as serious and have detrimental effects just like any illegal drug. The addiction can lead to loss of friends and issues with communicating. In more extreme instances, "it can limit young adults' personal growth and thwart social development. Finally, Internet addiction might cause teenagers to neglect physical activity and lead a secluded, unhealthy life" (Scheff). Technology itself is not the harmful piece but instead it is when people overuse it, resulting in negative side effects. Just all things in life, it must be used with moderation. Too much can be harmful and too little can take away from one socially as well. 

Despite all the negative impacts of digital technology, without it, economic growth in today's global economy would be impossible. Digital technology, when used properly, can have many beneficial effects on society, including medical improvements. "In countless ways, medical technologies can improve access to care, improve the effectiveness of care, decrease morbidity, speed up recovery, and increase patient comfort" (Esmail). Certain machines have been invented to diagnose patients and the internet can enable one to find out what his or her symptoms might mean. This can result in patients receiving medical care before their illness gets more severe, which could even save their life.  On the other hand, in certain cases, the effects of digital technology can also help students with their school work. With social media, it enables students to "reveal emotions and discuss topics that make their writing more powerful and honest" (Simmons). Typically, men are usually told to keep their emotions inside but with media sites, such as Facebook, men are encouraged to reveal those suppressed emotions, which enhances their writing. In certain ways, digital technology can be a vital and important tool, but with too much it can cause more harm than good. 

Overall, daily digital technology has both negative and positive impacts on one's health and social skills as well as cognitive skills. Technologies should "extend our minds and augment our abilities, not break up our minds" (Pang 360). If used correctly and responsible, technology can be very useful and beneficial, but when it is overused, that is when it can become detrimental. "The results of this study imply that, however advanced our communication technologies of "being there" or even move beyond it, their effects will always depend, at least in part, on how people understand these technologies and choose to use them" (Markus). This has become a very important aspect in today's society because "Close to 90% of U.S. adolescents now own or have access to a mobile phone, and they are using them frequently. Adolescents send and receive an average of over 60 text messages per day from their devices, and over 90% of adolescents now access the Internet from a mobile device at least occasionally" (George). Phone can be a great asset. They allow for communication between anyone at any given time. They are great for emergencies or just everyday communicating. But people begin to use them too much. Instead of once and while, people feel the need to always be texting someone. Without this, people can begin to feel lonely or left out. The constant need for communication can distract people. Digital technology can be a great tool, but should not be overused. 

Most people do not even realize that their technology is consuming and taking over their lives. I did not notice until recently. I always thought that I would never be one of those people obsessed with their phones. But when I try to put mine down for a few hours, I find it difficult. I find myself thinking and wanting to check it. Then once I check it, I find that much more time has passed than I would like. So I encourage everyone reading this to try it. Try turning off your phone or computer for at least an hour. See how many times you feel the urge to check it. It might be none but it also might be a lot more than you thought. If it is a lot more than you thought, then try using it less and less everyday. It will be a process and a challenging one at times, but overall, I believe that you will be much happier and healthier without it. Using your phones and computers too much increases your need for them. You become reliant upon them. But that can all change. It can only change if you want it to. It will not happen over night. But in a few weeks, you will realize that you are more social and confident without it. You will look people in the eyes while they talk to you instead of responding to that text message right away. You will have more time, more time to spend with friends and family. To go to the gym or on a walk. You will not have the urge to refresh your emails but rather notice what is going on around you. If you are always looking down at your phone, you will miss everything that is going on around you. That beautiful sunset or that exquisite building you never noticed before. Suddenly you will become more aware of your surrounds and of the people circling you (DeGuzman). Life will become much more enjoyable because now you focus on loved ones in front of you instead of what your Facebook friends are doing every second. Try it out and if you do not agree with me, then you can go back to using your digital technology every minute of the day until you turn into it, into a robot. 

