The Problem of Technology Addiction

Sometimes, I feel that technology is too addictive for our own good. We are increasingly spending our lives staring at LED screens rather than the faces of our loved ones. It is actually growing to the point that our computers and phones are more of our loved ones above our actual family and friends. I, too, am no exception. Especially as an aspiring computer scientist, it's hard to depart myself with my trusty friends - my computer. When I need to write something, it is my paper and pen. When I need to close myself off from all the noise around me, it is here for me. When I need to cry, it is there to distract myself, as I ask it to provide me with the endless amount of movies that keep me from thinking about what makes me sad. It is also there for me when I need an answer to something. Technology is incredible powerful and sadly taking over the position of a friend to consult to. Of course, I still do talk to people and ask for advice from others. But at the same time, the ease of finding answers online has made me timid and a bit scared to ask the professor directly.

The ease that technology grants us not only distracts us, but prevents us from interacting people without the filter of an electronic device. But at the same time, society has grown to a point where we need to learn technology or else you are consider out-dated and incapable of surviving in the world today. A sad fate has thus fallen upon us in my opinion. I will always love the technology around me, but in many instances, I feel it has taken up so much of my time. I spend more time staring at this beloved screen of mine instead of hanging with friends.

However, this problem is beginning to become a problem for the next generation. Kids of the next generation find themselves addicted to the joys of the Internets and the vast set of games available online to the extent, they become gaming addicts. When they are 5 and learn who to play Flappy Bird instead of looking, observing, and learning from their environment or even doodling with crayon, these kids are losing their time to explore their passions and talent. This in turn will make it harder for the future generation to maintain the world's tech, much less improve it, if kids are encouraged to direct their attention at computer games at a very young age. We need to step back away from technology, breathe in the fresh air outside, stretch our cramped muscles and enjoy the natural world around us. But even more importantly, we must make sure that while we teach our kids to embrace technology, we also teach to step back and surround themselves with nature and other human interactions before we take that part of our humanity from the next generation.