Understanding Technology’s Impact on Mental Health

In recent years, technology has overtaken and transformed various aspects of life. Technology has both positive and negative impacts. It is in our hands how we utilize it properly. While the technology brings various benefits like connectivity across distances, facilitates education, and counselling online and also acts as a platform for raising mental health awareness, it also has negative impacts like isolation, feelings of inadequacy, problems with self-esteem, addiction and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. So This article delves into the understanding of the impact of technology on the mental health of an individual. 

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Positive Impacts of Technology on Mental Health

• Enhance Connections: Technology facilitates connectivity across distances. It fosters better communication with our loved ones, colleagues, family members and friends across different countries. Tools like video calls, voice recordings, message apps, etc. allow people to stay connected regardless of where they live and social media such as Instagram, Twitter Facebook, and Linked In improve social connections and networking In this way, it can foster a sense of connectedness and remove isolation. 
• Facilitates Education: During COVID-19, social media and technology played a crucial role in facilitating education. Various platforms like Google Classroom, zoom, YouTube tutorials, live streams etc. Educates students despite the distance. It also helps the teachers to do their work such as sharing announcements, updates, and educational resources with the students. 
• Mental Health Awareness: Social media acts as a platform for raising mental health awareness. Through this, people get a proper understanding of the importance of mental health. It also reduces stigma and stereotypes about mental health. 
• Virtual counselling: Technology also facilitates people to gain professional support through online. During COVID-19, It helps people to get counselling online. 

Read More: How psychology plays an important role in the future of technology?

Negative Impacts of Technology on Mental Health

• Addiction: The constant checking of notifications, messages, social media feeds and calls makes the person addicted to it. This addiction makes the person distance themselves from other things such as family, friends, studies etc. When the person tries to distance themselves from technology results in fear of mission out (FOMO) which in turn cause impacts well being of an individual. Excessively playing mobile games results in social isolation, inability to disconnect, FOMO, and neglect of other responsibilities. 
• Isolation: In some instances, technology facilitates connection and brings people close together, while in other cases, it has the opposite effect. As technology pays way for face-to-face interactions, it reduces real-time connections and communications, which leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Even though it facilitates easier communication with distance relationships, it lacks emotions and nonverbal cues such as body language and tone of voice, which are essential for emotional bonding. 
• Problems with Self-Esteem: In today’s world, social media makes people comfortable with online self-presentation over offline self-presentation. Exposing constantly to certain contents leads to comparison with others, negative body image and feelings of inadequacy which results in various physical and psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem etc. 
• Physical Health Problems: Prolonged use of mobile phones causes various physical health complications such as headache, eyestrain, neck pain, back pain, poor posture etc. Excessive mobile phone usage leads to a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome in which the individual experiences wrist and hand pain due to excessive texting and scrolling.
• Depression and Anxiety: A study in 2016 found a connection between social media use and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Overuse of mobile phones and social media creates feelings of inadequacy and isolation due to various things we do on social media such as oversharing, comparison with others, cyberbullying etc. 
• Sleep disturbances: Increased use of mobile phones leads to poor quality of sleep. When we are exposed to Mobile phones for a long time, the blue light emitted from them causes a reduction in melatonin levels which causes the person difficulty falling asleep. 

Read More: The Impact of Virtual Reality Technology on Therapy

Conclusion

Technology has game changing role in today’s world which has both Positive and negative impacts. Positive impacts such as enhancing connection and networking, virtual counselling, facilitating education, and raising mental health awareness whereas negative impacts include isolation, sleep disturbances, physical health problems, issues with self-esteem, mobile phone addiction and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. So it is crucial to strike a balance between them. So it is time to understand the impacts and adopt healthier habits. 

FAQs  

1. How does technology impact mental health positively? 

• Connection across distances  
• Raising mental health awareness  
• Facilitating education during the pandemic period. 

2. How to strike a balance between technology and mental health  

• Seek support 
• Digital detoxification  
• Practice mindfulness  
• Involve in physical activities  
• Maintain a good sleep cycle  
• Set boundaries for technological devices 

3. What are the negative impacts of technology on mental health? 

• Addiction  
• Sleep disturbances  
• Depression and anxiety  
• Physical health problems  
• Problems with self-esteem. 
• Enhance Connection and networking