Are we using technology too much?

U.S. adults use their phones on an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes per day in 2018. That is an annual increase of 11 minutes. U.S. ‘tweens’ are spending about 6 hours on their devices. U.S. teenagers spend an approximate 9 hours in front of a digital screen. That is like adding up three adults time spent on their phones. This shows that children and teenagers are spending more time looking at their devices than are with their friends and families, in school, and other activities. Now schools are encouraging students to use their digital devices during class time for finding answers and looking up information.

People need rest to live. Sleeping helps to repair and heal your heart. People are not getting the rest they need because of our new and advanced technology. When people use their devices before it is time for them to lie down for sleep, it will cause them to not be able to fall asleep and it will take a longer period of time until they actually fall asleep. Going on your phone before bed can also make you more tired and less alert when you wake up in the morning. According to expert, Amy Speidel, children ages 6 to 18 had an 88 percent risk of not getting enough sleep when their devices were in their bedrooms, and a 53 percent risk of getting a bad night’s sleep.

When you use your phone for long periods of time during the day, it can strain your eyes. You have the potential of getting dry eyes, headaches, and even blurred vision. It is harder for your eyes to focus on a lit up digital screen because the letters are harder to read. According to the American Optometric Association, there's less contrast between the backlit letters and background, and you're up against glare and reflections.

Although there might be a lot of negatives to cell phone use, cell phones can also be very helpful. They can be very important for safety situations. Having a cell phone can make it very easy to get in contact with someone when you are having an emergency. Some people do not have access to landlines, so having a cell phone would make calls quick and easy.

Despite the fact that cellphones can be helpful during an emergency, they can still cause a lot of damage to our bodies. Try to stay away from your cellular device for a little while. Try to maybe cut back an hour or two. This will not only help you to connect to the world a little more, but it will also save your health.