The Dark Side of Technology Miranda, Sofie and Alicia

The Dark Side of Technoogy Why you shouldnt spend your life behind a retina screen

and how dead authors make good points

I fear the day that technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots. Albert Einstein

Face it, youre addicted Welcome to the 21st century, otherwise known as the digital age. Statistically speaking, more people own cell phones than toilets. On a daily basis, respective sectors of our global community use GPS systems to navigate places, transmit files between two devices cable-free, harness energy from our nearest star and send monkeys into space. Theres so much more weird and wacky inventions, some modifications of older ones, apart from the ones stated, but thats something for your own personal inquiry.

Inarguably, the more advanced our technology becomes, the more doors open for us, we find ourselves facing bigger prospects and opportunities to explore which bears results that can be used for the greater good of mankind. Like finding a cure for cancer, or a way to harness unlimited energy from the core of the Milky Way.

But humans are born with a deeply embedded sense of laziness and a tendency to be manipulative, whatever we can get our hands on that pleasure us and eases our burdens we use excessively. Procrastination- teens call it, and wonder when their life went wrong decades later as they wrap up an order at McDonalds. Its no wonder that technology is being abused, to the point of addiction.

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Weve all thought this at least once in our lives, how else are there so many Microsoft products around?

But contrary to popular belief, Bill Gates is just a nice, successful, innately smart and mind bogglingly wealthy guy (however, whether or not hes Stephen Hawkings long lost twin is still very much plausible). Do you know who else is a nice guy? Enter the monster, a fictional character from Mary Shelleys infamous Frankenstein.

Victor Frankenstein, the mad scientist who created the monster went against the laws of nature and gave life to a scrap of haphazardly sewn body parts, which should have otherwise been dead, like the corpses they belonged to. Mary Shelley wanted to show her readers that when science toes the line, nature retaliates, in this case, the monster went berserk and turned into a Victorian-era Hulk.

In context, were also toeing the line, by using immoderately what we should be implementing wisely. Dont be a slave to technology, lest we meet the same fate the monster did.

Remind me why this is a problem

1. Were butchering relationships and what is considered normal human interaction.

2. You lose your ability to think critically and discourages students from actively pursuing their interests.

3. Its bad for your eyes and your posture.

4. Its distracting, especially social media platforms. But trust me, you dont need those likes, you need to do your homework.

Is Bill Gates out for world domination?

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5. Irregular sleeping patterns, this might potentially induce insomnia. 6. Teens are prone to cyber bullies on, again, sociomed platforms, causing depression and anxiety to run rampant 7. Teens and children are also prone to child predators, viruses, and identity thieves. 8. Psychological studies show that technology addicts find it difficult to store and retrieve information, as well as suffering from impaired decision making abilities and negative impacts to emotional processing.

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Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016 You Know That Youre Addicted, Now What?

1. Acknowledge that technology has power! Just being aware of this fact helps you in taking bigger steps to change your interaction with those devices.

2. You need to set a time limit! Set a timer when you start using technology. Recommended time is not more than an hour at a time. Theres no point trying to change your habits if you havent decided on your new boundaries. Once you decided on this, tell your parents and family about it and dont forget to make it clear to yourself that there is no valid reason for a time extension.

3. And set another time limit! You need to have time that is as long as your time limit for handling and using technology exclusive for exercise and socialize (definitely not using social media). Go for at least an hour of outdoor activities such as jogging, walking your dog, riding bikes, playing with friends and others per day!

4. Prioritize your homework! All homework had to be done before getting on your pc/phone/tablet/etc to play.

5. Family time takes the precedence! Having family is inarguably was and is of great importance. Family comes first so stop saying when I get done on the computer, Mom! when youre called for dinner!

6. Open door policy. For parents, do always have your childrens doors open and interact with them during computer time. Check on the games theyre playing or what they were looking up. Show interest and let them know you are paying attention. When possible, sit with them, watch and interact.

7. Modify your routine. If you trap yourself by checking email first thing in the morning or heading straight for the computer when you get home from work, intending to get off and do other things but never quite getting there, change your routine a bit and get other things out of the way first. Its much easier to get off the computer if you dont get on it! Wait until youve done your household chores, then give yourself some net time. Reward yourself, in small amounts, for holding out.

8. Dont use them for recreational purposes. There are a lot of people out there who lives their life never touching any gadget and are happier than you thought!

9. Track your progress! See how well you did on holding back and be satisfied over it (if you did make a satisfying progress).

10. Focus on being present! You need to try to engage yourself in the moment, and with people around you. Remind yourself by doing self-talk like I am talking to this person right now and that means I should not focus on other stuff to be respectful.

11. Take a Technology Holiday! Take a day, a weekend, or even a week off from your gadgets. It helps greatly in reducing addiction.

12. Find a professional! If all the things above doesnt work, means your addiction is serious and needs to be handled with care. Find a licensed mental health professional with experience in practical strategies can help you to overcome challenges around your relationship with technology that you havent been able to solve using the other suggestions on this list.

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HOSALE, Sherry, 2013. 25 Negative Effects of Technology (last update June 8thd 2013). Available at: http://roogirl.com/25-negative-effects-of-technology/ (May 11 2015).

DELOATCH, Pamela, 2015. The Four Negative Sides of Technology (last updated May 2 2015). Available at: http://www.edudemic.com/the-4-negative-side-effects-of-technology/ (May 11 2015).

Essilor USA, 2015. Children and Technology: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (last update uknown). Available at: http://news.essilorusa.com/stories/detail/children-and-technology-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly (May 11 2015).