Digital Health

To be digitally responsible is to imply that one uses technology in a manner that is not harmful to others and comprehends the impact that technology has on our health, environment and society in general. The amount of time that we spend on screen has been steadily increasing. Per the journal Common Sense,  in 2017 children under the age of eight spent on average 48 minutes a day using mobile devices up from 15 minutes in 2013. With the development of the IPhone the frequency and the manner in which we utilized screen technology has dramatically evolved.

We have studied the impact that our diet, sleeping patterns, exercise and professions have on our health, however, we have only scratched the surface of how electronic screen devices impact human health.

Health experts  generally agree  that excess screen time does impact human growth and psychological  development to a certain extent. More obvious and immediate health effects include eye and muscle damage and sleep deprivation  that occur due to staring at screens, typing and poor posture. According to the American Optometric Association, approximately, 40% of optometrists' patients suffer from eye strain caused by the computer vision syndrome while 45% complained of neck and back pain associated with computer or handheld device use. Physical health conditions that are associated with technology can be mitigated by adjusting posture, screen setting and regulating usage.

However, the subtle impact of technology on our psychological health must also be considered. According to the Everyday Health a study conducted by the University of California found that  most people absorb thrice as much information per day then they would have fifty years ago. Researchers assert that too much information can influence our psychology, however, the opinions regarding the nature of that impact are conflicted. Per studies conducted by Harvard and Columbia Universities the advent of technology has affected memory retention as people are less likely to remember information that they can access later on the internet. Social media is also considered responsible for causing emotional instability in adolescents. The notion of dependency on friends and parents displayed  by adolescents in order to feel validated is also encouraged by social media. Although harder  to identify, psychological health problems can also prevented through adjusting online behavior.

It is clear that our usage of technology has a tremendous impact on our health. Being overly connected may lead to psychological and physical health problems thus nullifying the possible benefits of technology for our health. 

References

The Real Effects of Technology on Your Health. (2017, November 15). 

Retrieved August 18, 2018, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/internet- addiction/real-effects-  technology-on-your-health

Health and Technology. (2017). Retrieved August 18, 2018, from http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/health-and-technology/

How Does Technology Use Affect Men's & Women's Health? (2017). Retrieved August      17, 2018, from https://www.nwpc.com/how-does-technology-use-affect-mens-womens-health/