₦airaland Forum

DO YOU use digital technology? Many would answer yes and for good reason electronics devices play a prominent and vital role in employment, social life and entertainment. However, Many people seem overly attached to some uses of technology, for example, 20-year-old Nichole says: ''I hate to say it, but my phone and I are best friends.I make sure it is close by at all times.I go crazy if I'm in an area with no cell coverage, and after half an hour, I can't wait to be able to check my messages again.It is a little ridiculous!''

Some people even check their devices for messages and updates all through the night.They may experience withdrawal syndrome when they are separated from their digital companions.Some researchers describe this type of behaviour as an addiction---whether to digital technology in general or more specifically to the Internet or a partner device, such as a smartphone.Others hesitate to use the term ''addiction'' and prefers to describe such behaviour as problematic, compulsive or obsessive.

Regardless of what it is called,unwise use of digital technology can be a problem. In some places, it has created a barrier between family members. For example, a 20-year-old girl laments:''My father doesn't know about anything going on in my life anymore.He sits in the living room and writes emails while he is talking to me.He can't put his phone down.My dad probably cares about me, but something just doesn't seem that he does.

Digital Detox

To help deal with abuse of technology,nations such as China,South Korea,the United Kingdom and the United States have established ''digital detox'' centres where a person is denied access to the Internet and digital devices for several days. For example, consider Brett, a young adult who says that at one point he was playing an online game for up to 16 hours a day.''Whenever I went online , it really was like getting high on a drug,'' he says. By the time Brett checked himself into a Digital Detox centre, he was unemployed, had neglected his hygiene and had lost his friends. How can you prevent such a sad outcome? Find out in our next post on this topic.

cc: lalasticlala
Credit: http://www.wearobo.com/2015/10/you-are-abusing-digital-technology.html#sthash.IyIOjAlO.dpuf

am guilty of this.