Is Technology Making Us More Or Less Human?

Recent studies suggest that technology is making us less human, not more. Experts agree that as we become increasingly connected through technology, interactions shift to the digital realm only, leaving little room for non-digital conversations and relationships.
This trend is sometimes referred to as “tech loneliness” or “connectionless connectivity.” While some argue that this separation can be helpful because it allows you to focus on your work without distractions, others worry about how this influence impacts social connections and interpersonal relations.

There are even reports of people suffering from tech grief — severe stress and anxiety caused by no longer having access to their favorite apps, devices, or services. In fact, one study found that 30 percent of smartphone users felt depressed due to device withdrawal symptoms.

So what do these studies tell us about the impact of technology on humans? And are there ways to mitigate the negative effects? Let’s take a look!

Is Techno-Loneliness A Risk Factor For Health Problems?
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A growing body of research suggests that experiencing tech solitude may put our health at risk in several important ways. On the same note, some experts believe that exposure to digital interaction could have the opposite effect, helping individuals feel happier and healthier.

​24/7/365 learning

Recent developments in technology have allowed for constant, continuous education. This is different from the way most people learn, which is through formal schooling with courses that require you to go out and buy materials to study them. With online education, you can access all of this information free!

Online educational resources come from various sources. Some are free, some cost money, but they are both valuable. What makes one resource more worthy than another is dependent upon your personal goals and what you want to achieve.

Some examples of how technology is used to teach include YouTube videos, reading books, listening to podcasts, watching TV shows, playing educational videogames, flashcard apps, immersive VR and AR learning experiences, and talking about things with friends. A good rule of thumb with using the internet to learn is that the more active you are in the process of learning, the more likely you will remember the information. Therefore, playing educational games or a flashcard app would be more likely to be remembered as opposed to passively watching a video, listening to a podcast, or reading books. 

This article will talk mostly about the benefits of the web in terms of teaching and improving our knowledge. But before we get into those, let’s discuss why it is important to educate yourself.

​The effects of technology on our brains

​Recent studies suggest that exposure to too much technology can have negative impacts on your mental health.

It has become increasingly common for young people to use smartphones, tablets, and computer screens for almost all aspects of their daily lives. Many teens and adults rely exclusively on digital media to fulfill their entertainment needs.

Research indicates that this over-use is linked to lower levels of happiness, stress, socialization, and communication. It may also contribute to anxiety and depression by offering less relief from worries.

Furthermore, there are indications that excessive screen time can negatively affect brain development. Studies show that adolescents who spend more than two hours per day using smartphone apps, gaming systems, or computer monitors suffer changes in volume and structure of the hippocampus – an area of the brain important in memory formation.

This research raises concerns about the potential long-term effects of frequent tech usage. While early signs are promising, it’s still the early days for understanding how technology influences human psychology.

More information is needed before we know whether these associations are cause for concern or not. But what we do know is that changing how you use technology is a straightforward way to reduce its impact on your psychological well-being.

Negative Effects of Excessive Technology Usage

Recent studies show that there are actually harmful consequences to having more than just a few devices in your life. These studies suggest that too many gadgets can reduce mental health and social engagement, and even contribute to loneliness.

In one study, researchers observed 443 people across different socioeconomic statuses (SES) for two weeks to see what types of interactions they had with other individuals and if those conversations were via computer, phone, or both. They found that lower SES individuals spent less time talking face-to-face than higher income groups and almost all conversation was done through digital channels.

Another study conducted interviews with 30 college students about how connected they felt using smartphone apps, such as Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Researchers found that only half of them said they wanted to use fewer technologies because they believed it made them feel lonely and isolated.

Researchers also looked at the relationships that these students had and whether those relationships included non-tech people who then helped them reduce tech usage. One student mentioned that she would go out without her phone so she could talk to someone and that helped her reduce her device use.

Positive Side of Technology Use

Recent studies show that having access to advanced technologies can make us happier, more productive workers and better people. Technological advances have made our lives easier in many ways.

Technology has also given rise to the concept of ‘connected living’ where individuals connect with each other and technology to stay connected. This trend is growing rapidly as we see more and more devices that allow for connectivity.

Some even refer to this as The Internet of Things because almost anything now has internet connection!

There are potential benefits of connecting via tech this could influence your mental health. However, before you start spending all day scrolling through social media sites, hold off for a moment.

We should be careful about how reliant we become on digital tools. Overuse can lead to negative impacts on work-life balance, depression, and anxiety. Each notification, each post, each like, releases a burst of the neuromodulator, dopamine, and can therefore lead to addiction and feeling of withdrawal when not in use.

Technology Can Make Us Lose Touch With Reality

Recent studies show that having access to advanced technologies can make us happier, more productive workers and better people. Technological advances have made our lives easier in many ways.

Technology has also given rise to the concept of ‘connected living’ where individuals connect with each other and technology to stay connected. This trend is growing rapidly as we see more and more devices that allow for connectivity.

Some even refer to this as The Internet of Things because almost anything now has internet connection!

There are potential benefits of connecting via tech this could influence your mental health. However, before you start spending all day scrolling through social media sites, hold off for a moment.

We should be careful about how reliant we become on digital tools. Overuse can lead to negative impacts on work-life balance, depression, and anxiety. Each notification, each post, each like, releases a burst of the neuromodulator, dopamine, and can therefore lead to addiction and feeling of withdrawal when not in use.

We should learn to unwind

​We seem to be moving towards a society that is increasingly reliant upon technology. Gone are the days when people would simply read a book, spend time with their family, and do some gardening once in a while.

Now, we have computers, mobile phones, and the internet at our fingertips everywhere we go – even if we don’t use them at home.

We depend on technology for work, education, communication, and entertainment. It has reduced the need to be physically present in one place, which can make it hard to focus when you return home.

And because of this, we forget what being focused on “real life” things means!

In fact, according to research conducted by Stanford University, working long hours is now as harmful for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per hour for a total of three hours.

So how does someone get enough rest and relaxation?

Well, most people cannot just turn off their smartphone completely due to personal and professional obligations. But there are ways to reduce the amount of digital engagement you have during the day.

You should strive to leave yourself a certain amount of time every night to relax, connect with friends and family, and unwind. This could be 30 minutes, an hour, or even more depending on your personal needs.

This is called ‘digital detox’.

In our constant state of alert, we are not learning how to relax. When you think about it, when people spend their time on social media sites, surfing the net, texting, gaming, and picking up new gadgets and apps that make them more productive, it also makes them less human.

We have become experts in vigilance. We feel like we must be doing something – everything is available to us through technology, so we keep looking at all of them and staying awake until midnight to check out whatever news app has been downloaded onto our phone. This is why most people are totally unprepared when a major tragedy happens.

With all this focus on productivity, we are losing the ability to enjoy leisure activities.

When was the last time you heard someone talk about going away for the weekend? Or taking a vacation?

It seems impossible now. Because with remote work, we can take care of business everywhere we go so we stay within our bubble of activity, protected from any outside influences.

We seem to be moving towards a society that is technologically dependent, which can have some very negative.

Technology has made our lives so easy!  By making it possible to communicate, research information, and do basic tasks from anywhere, we shift the human boundary away from “libraries with electricity” and into something more mobile.

It also gives us the opportunity to connect with others outside of traditional settings, from anywhere in the world and from any walk of life. So even with the negative aspects of a digital society, we have the ability to connect to anyone anywhere and isn't connection what really makes us human?