Hadi Alabdrabanabi Connie Farrel ENG100-53 7 November,2016 Negative Effects of Overusing Technology Technology has become an essential part of people’s lives, and most individuals, especially the young generation, cannot live without it. It has many uses such as social networking, searching for information, entertainment, job searching, and conducting e-commerce. Nowadays, it is rare to find people without cell phones, computers, email, and social networking accounts such as Facebook and Twitter. A survey conducted by the Jed Foundation revealed that approximately 90% of college students utilize technology to keep in touch with their friends and family through social networking (Simpson). Moreover, uses such as conducting research work and entertainment have become popular over time. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that people do not rely too much on technological devices. Despite its significant integration into people’s lives, the overuse of technology can have some adverse effects on individuals and the societyFirst, overusing technology hinders the development of cognitive processes. According to Hatch (19), it affects development of the brain especially among children and adolescents and can cause CPA (Continuous Partial Attention) condition. Information overload induces this condition in the brain and affects its ability to process ideas and create various meanings. Currently, technology entails constant streaming of information into people’s lives through the use of computers, mobile phones, and millions of functional digital applications. From a majority perspective, these applications make life easier by reducing the time it takes to conduct business, keep in touch, and perform necessary tasks. However, they are the primary source of distractions from essential tasks. Studies show that social media and entertainment are the main sources of work disruptions thanks to people always checking their online updates. As a result, they cannot focus or conduct their job efficiently due to paying only partial attention. Similarly, constant use of technology affects the way the brain absorbs new information and can lead to divided attention when performing different tasks. Studies indicate that distractions caused by social media and entertainment cause people to shift their attention to several different things, never at any one time focusing on completion of a single task (Hatch 20). Many technology users believe that they are capable of skills such as multitasking because they own a variety of tech devices that help them to accomplish different tasks. Nevertheless, studies show that whereas such people can split their priorities among many tasks, they eventually become unable to focus due to continuous bursts of new information. The result is that multitaskers develop problems in shutting out irrelevant information and experience higher stress levels in their brains. Likewise, people who heavily rely on technology become accustomed ...

1. Hadi Alabdrabanabi
Connie Farrel
ENG100-53
7 November,2016
Negative Effects of Overusing Technology
Technology has become an essential part of people’s lives, and
most individuals, especially the young generation, cannot live
without it. It has many uses such as social networking,
searching for information, entertainment, job searching, and
conducting e-commerce. Nowadays, it is rare to find people
without cell phones, computers, email, and social networking
accounts such as Facebook and Twitter. A survey conducted by
the Jed Foundation revealed that approximately 90% of college
students utilize technology to keep in touch with their friends
and family through social networking (Simpson). Moreover,
uses such as conducting research work and entertainment have
become popular over time. Nevertheless, it is important to
ensure that people do not rely too much on technological
devices. Despite its significant integration into people’s lives,
the overuse of technology can have some adverse effects on
individuals and the societyFirst, overusing technology hinders
the development of cognitive processes. According to Hatch
(19), it affects development of the brain especially among
children and adolescents and can cause CPA (Continuous Partial
Attention) condition. Information overload induces this
condition in the brain and affects its ability to process ideas and
create various meanings. Currently, technology entails constant
streaming of information into people’s lives through the use of
computers, mobile phones, and millions of functional digital
applications. From a majority perspective, these applications
make life easier by reducing the time it takes to conduct
business, keep in touch, and perform necessary tasks. However,
they are the primary source of distractions from essential tasks.

2. Studies show that social media and entertainment are the main
sources of work disruptions thanks to people always checking
their online updates. As a result, they cannot focus or conduct
their job efficiently due to paying only partial attention.
Similarly, constant use of technology affects the way the brain
absorbs new information and can lead to divided attention when
performing different tasks. Studies indicate that distractions
caused by social media and entertainment cause people to shift
their attention to several different things, never at any one time
focusing on completion of a single task (Hatch 20). Many
technology users believe that they are capable of skills such as
multitasking because they own a variety of tech devices that
help them to accomplish different tasks. Nevertheless, studies
show that whereas such people can split their priorities among
many tasks, they eventually become unable to focus due to
continuous bursts of new information. The result is that
multitaskers develop problems in shutting out irrelevant
information and experience higher stress levels in their brains.
Likewise, people who heavily rely on technology become
accustomed to its multiple functionalities but cannot focus on
new streams of information entirely on work that may require it.
Therefore, they become more skilled in monotonous jobs that
require fewer information streams but are less suited for ones
that require cognitive skills such as deep thinking and problem-
solving using new data (Hatch 20).
Furthermore, there are concerns about the growth of health-
related issues caused by technological devices such as video
games and television. Research by the National Center for
Health Statistics shows that obesity rates have doubled among
children and tripled among adolescents in the last three decades
mostly due to their sedentary lifestyle (Rosen et al. 366). This
latter is instigated by overutilization of technology; for
example, nowadays, children spend most of their time indoors
playing video games and watching TV, ride in cars instead of
walking and use elevators instead of stairs. As a result, they
become overweight and develop related health conditions due to

3. lack of exercise. According to Rosen et al. (369), there is
adequate evidence to suggest that more television time leads to
higher Body Mass Index (BMI) due to increased eating and less
physical activity. Likewise, studies on American teens’
lifestyles revealed that more television, internet, video games,
and computer use contributed to increase of their body fat.
Moreover, technology is responsible for the development of a
variety of psychological health issues due to increased media
consumption. Various psychological studies indicate that
excessive screen time leads to psychological distress among
children and adolescents (Rosen et al. 367). Furthermore, it
causes high levels of depression, loneliness, anxiety, attention
issues, and withdrawal. Prolonged exposure to television during
childhood is known to cause attention deficiency and poor
sleeping habits during adolescence. Additionally, it can lead to
violent behavior, antisocialism, and aggression due to
consumption of negative media. These kinds of acts are mainly
triggered by playing violent video games which rewire the brain
to become immune and numb to real-life violence. Given that
the advancements in technology allow manufacturers to come up
with realistic games including virtual reality, it is no wonder
that players develop violence and aggression because they begin
to believe that violence is acceptable in real life ("Daily
Overuse of Media, Technology Has Negative Effect on the
Health of All Children"). Games such as the Call of Duty and
God of War are popular due to their realistic appearance and
violence. The latter has been banned from the gaming industry
due to its adverse effects on children and adolescents.
Additionally, technology overuse has adversely changed the
way people communicate. As the society becomes more
connected through the internet and social networking,
individuals hide behind the “digital veil”, which allows them to
have conversations that would have otherwise been impossible
in person. Overusing social media technology has redefined
social circles and friends in many societies and causes many
individuals to lead “false” online lives. Moreover, the time they

4. spend on social media chat rooms reduces their social
connectedness and wellbeing due to superficial and less
beneficial relationships formed with strangers (Valkenburg and
Jochen 1). On top of that, individuals become less inclined to
communicate with family members, reduce their social circles,
and become depressed. Nevertheless, there are theories that
contradict this notion and suggest that online communication
results in greater positivity and breadth of interaction that
enhance people’s wellbeing; for example, new research shows
that young adults that spend more time on Facebook develop
‘’virtual empathy’ for their online friends. Also, online social
networking helps introverted teenagers learn how to socialize
and communicate with people without feeling marginalized. On
the contrary, online communication can result in adversities
such as cyber bullying, online harassment, and flaming, that
entail hostility among internet users (Valkenburg and Jochen 3).
Lastly, too much exposure to technology affects students’
academic performance. Research shows that as time spent on
technology increases, the academic performance of students
deteriorates (Abdulahi et al. 135). In particular, time devoted to
social networks, video games, televisions, and mobile phones
affects the way students think and exposes them to
inappropriate online materials. Also, these technology
applications all compete for the students’ attention and distract
their learning processes. DeLoatch states that the time spent
with technology does not teach students new ways of doing
things but changes the way their brains work. They become
good at finding information but poor at remembering it.
Furthermore, they may not have adequate opportunities to
utilize their imagination in reading and thinking deeply about
their studies. Research on the utilization of social networking
sites indicate that they distract the way students learn and
negatively impact their performance. According to Abdulahi et
al. (135), middle school, high school, and college students who
check their Facebook and Twitter at least once in a fifteen
minutes study period achieve low grades. Furthermore, over-

5. involvement and obsession with cell phones and computers
negatively affect educational performance.
In summary, while technology is a train that will continuously
move forward, it is essential to keep it under control. There is
no denying the many benefits gained from its advancement, but
moderation is always a key. Parents, teachers, therapists and
other stakeholders in society need to “wake up” and address the
detrimental effects that overuse of technology is having on
children’s physical, behavioral, and psychological health.
Moreover, their ability to learn and sustain family and personal
relationships is reduced because their connection to
technological devices results in disconnection from society and
its values. Most parents have resorted to buying their children
video games, mobile phones, and TVs without realizing that
these devices create an irreversible chasm between them and
their children (Rowan). Therefore, there is a need to create
balance when it comes to the use of technology so that people
can maximize its benefits and curtail its detrimental effects.
Works Cited
Abdulahi, Aida et al. "A Study on the Negative Effects of Social
Networking Sites Such as Facebook among Asia Pacific
University Scholars in Malaysia". International Journal of
Business and Social Science, vol. 5, no. 10, 2014, pp. 133-145.
"Daily Overuse of Media, Technology Has Negative Effect on
the Health of all Children". Stone Hearth Newsletters, 2011,
www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/daily-overuse-of-media-
technology-has-negative-effect-on-the-health-of-all-
children/pediatric-health/.Accessed 04 November 2016.
DeLoatch, Pamela. "The Four Negative Sides of
Technology". Edudemic.Com, 2015, www.edudemic.com/the-4-
negative-side-effects-of-technology/. Accessed 04 November
2016.
Hatch, Kristina. "Determining the Effects of Technology on
Children". Senior Honors Projects, vol. 1, no. 260, 2016, pp. 1-
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6. Rosen, L.D. et al. "Media And Technology Use Predicts Ill-
Being Among Children, Preteens And Teenagers Independent of
the Negative Health Impacts of Exercise and Eating
Habits". Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 35, no. 3, 2014,
pp. 364-375. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.036.
Rowan, Cris. "The Impact of Technology on the Developing
Child". The Huffington Post, 2013,
www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/technology-children-
negative-impact_b_3343245.html. Accessed 04 November 2016.
Simpson, Kelley. "Is Overuse of Technology Affecting Mental
Health?” Healthy UNH, 2013,
www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/2013/05/overuse-technology-
affecting-mental-health. Accessed 04 November 2016.
Valkenburg, Patti M. and Jochen, Peter. "Social Consequences
of the Internet for Adolescents: A Decade of Research". Current
Directions in Psychological Science, vol. 18, no. 1, 2009, pp. 1-
5. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01595.x.