Having a family meal is an opportunity for quality conversations and family bonding, but in today’s world uninvited guests in the form of technology have invaded the dinner table, seriously impacting face-to-face interactions. Advancements in technology have provided humans with ways to be connected to the outside world at any time and any place. In fact, watching a show, using social media, or playing video games on a smartphone can occur while at home, in the car, or even on an airplane. However, technology use of this nature has caused users to become unaware of the immediate surroundings. Moreover, the technology of today’s world, along with the millennials’ desire to be attached to it, has created a form of dependency that one may compare …show more content…
Continuous connectivity throughout the day can lead to multiple mental issues. Decreases in attention span, increases in anxiety and depression, and shockingly, even narcissism can be the result of a preoccupation with gadgets (Agarwal & Kar, 2015). These mental concerns may not be seen as adversely as those of the physical nature. Major back issues and neck strain requiring physical therapy along with vision and hearing loss may become problematic as a result of technology dependency (Madan, 2015). According to the Pew Research Center, 24% of teens are online “almost constantly” due to the ever increasing availability of technological devices (Lenhart, 2015). This incessant use of technology has dramatically affected the health of these users. To further substantiate this claim, video games and other technologies have been proven to increase obesity rates as a result of decreased physical activity rates (Nigg, 2003). By decreasing time spent on physical activities, an individual endangers one’s health. Developing diabetes, becoming obese, and increasing the chances of a heart attack become grave possibilities. Furthermore, individuals are prone to developing nomophobia. This is the separation, anxiety, and depression associated with realizing that one is disconnected from friends, family, work, and the world as a result of a lost, stolen, or …show more content…
To these individuals it is a blessing to have access to it. Yes, advancements in technology do allow people the ability to access information and communicate instantaneously. Technology has also provided improvements in the lives of those with health concerns in the form of medical equipment and medicines pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. These, however, are not forms of addictive technology. Furthermore, it has helped those who have less severe medical issues such as blindness, deafness, and even amputees. Studies have even shown that the use of technology has been helpful to people that are unable to properly communicate face-to-face. While these arguments are valid, the interaction among technology and individuals can be characterized as irreversible and can cause unpredictable outcomes (Wiens, 1993). The impact of technology on the social, mental, and physical well-being of an individual can be