Over-dependence on Technology

866 Words2 Pages

Regina Fleck has an iPhone 7 and she admits, “I no longer feel frustrated or impatient. That emotion now manifests in me as a desire to check my e-mail." (Tran). All around the world, technology has taken over the lives of many, especially children. Each year younger children are being introduced to new technology to help them learn and grow, but the effects of this may be different from what is expected. Rather than seeing growth, the overuse of technology is leading to many issues, including a decline in creativity, less active lifestyles, and difficulty falling asleep. The growing overdependence on and overuse of technology is affecting young children both mentally and physically.

Throughout the world, but in America especially, obesity has been increasing rapidly in the past few years. Sedentary lifestyles are increasing, and children are a main group that has seen an increase in this type of lifestyle due to the desire to remain inside and spend their time playing video games and watching TV while enjoying their favorite snacks. The more overweight this generation becomes, the more health issues arise, such as diabetes, depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure (Delhi). These children not only enjoy the Internet and technology, they are addicted to it, which is why it’s so hard for them to decline the opportunity to use technology rather than go outside to play. Ads on TV and websites also promote toys, other technology, and food, causing children to have a desire for these products and possibly causing them to become overweight made worse by their sedentary nature. In fact, Dr. Peter Nieman observed that the biggest competitors for physical activity are the television and the Internet. Some believe that it is not the ch...

... middle of paper ...

...General OneFile. Web. 8 Jan. 2014

Tran, Diep. "Man and/vs machine." American Theatre Dec. 2013: 24. General OneFile. Web. 8 Jan. 2014.

Browning, Sierra. "Technology Overdependence; The Effect on Children." Elevenamproject4. N.p., 24 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Jan. 2014.

Fisher, Arthur. "High tech, high grades? Computers and the Internet are Changing How We Teach Science and Math. Are the Results Worth It?" Popular Science Jan. 1999: 64+. General OneFile. Web. 13 Jan. 2014.

Rideout, Victoria J., M.A., Ulla G. Foehr, Ph.D., and Donald F. Roberts, Ph.D.

"Generation M2 Media in the Lives of 8- to 18- Year Olds." The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

Gray, Lucinda, Nina Thomas, and Laurie Lewis. "Teachers’ Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009." U.S. Department of Education, May 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2014.

Open Document